Aloha Friends!

As Valentine's day approaches, love is in the air...and plants! On our last visit to Kauai I took a few photos of hearts I saw growing near the condo...

Thanks for reading my diary!

Aloha Everybody!

I saw a recipe a few weeks ago for Passion Fruit Bars. They looked pretty tasty and I've been "homesick" for Kauai. Perfect timing for a new recipe! It called for fresh Passion Fruit. I went on a hunt...no luck. I did find Hawaiian Sun brand Lilikoi Passion beverage but, with 3% fruit juice I didn't think it would pass in the recipe. So, when I walked past a bottle of Papaya Delight with 100% fruit juice I knew what I was going to make. Papaya Bars!

I saved the Passion Fruit Bar recipe for another day. The recipe I used to make the Papaya Bars is similar to the Lemon Bar recipe in my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. I've made Lemon Bars a gazillion times. Here is the tweaked Lemon Bars turned Papaya Bars recipe...

Papaya Bars

1/3 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Flour
1 Egg
1 Cup Papaya Juice
1 Tablespoon Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder

Beat butter and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Mix in the 1 cup of flour till crumbly. Press into bottom of 8"x8"x2" baking pan. Bake in 350F oven for 15 to 18 minutes or till just golden.

Meanwhile, gently boil papaya juice in a small sauce pan on a cooktop until thickened and reduced to about half. You should have 1/2 cup of yummy, sweet, thick papaya goodness.

Combine the egg, remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, baking powder and papaya. Beat well until thoroughly combined. Pour over hot baked layer.

Bake in 350F oven for about 20 minutes more or until lightly browned on the edges and center is set. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Here is a photo of the juice I used...and my laundry! Keeping it real for you guys...LOL. It's good juice, made locally here in San Diego.

I hope that you like the Papaya Bar recipe. I would love to try it with fresh papayas. Maybe next time I'm on island. I could puree the papaya in the blender and bake the bars in our little oven. With a peek-a-boo ocean view from the kitchen...it's fun to cook in the condo :)

Aloha!