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Last week I had cookie recipes and this week it’s bar recipes. I read in one of my cookie cookbooks that a bar is a type of cookie that is baked in a rectangular or square baking pan with one to two-inch sides.  This cook book says there are six basic types of cookies – drop, molded, pressed, refrigerator, rolled and bar. Whoever says, “I’m going to make bar cookies.” Many bars are baked at the same temperature so I often make 2 or 3 different kinds at a time. You should see my kitchen counter with various size containers all over the place! I measure out the ingredients for each kind of bar in bowls, put the instructions by the recipe, look to see which kind of bar bakes the longest and start making bars! It sounds a little crazy but I have enough bowls, containers and baking pans in different sizes so it works. Just think of the variety of bars I can freeze to serve anytime.  They keep for a couple months or more if wrapped tightly in foil, then wrapped again. Be sure to write the name of the bars, where the recipe can be found and the date they were made, on a piece of masking tape and stick it on the wrapping.

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BUTTER PECAN CHOCOLATE BARS
2 c. flour
1-1/2 c. packed brown sugar, divided
1/2 c. plus 2/3 c. butter, divided
1 c. coarsely chopped pecans
2/3 c. butter
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. milk chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine flour and 1 c. brown sugar; cut in 1/2 c. butter until crumbly, using a pastry blender. Press mixture firmly into ungreased 9x13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle pecan pieces over crust. Press pecans very, very lightly onto crust (Don’t press the pecans so they sink into the crust mixture.)

In a small saucepan, combine 2/3 c. butter and 1/2 c. brown sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil 1 minute. Slowly pour over pecans.
Bake at 350 degrees on the middle rack for about 16  minutes. Remove from oven; sprinkle chips evenly over all. Let stand 4-5 minutes so chocolate melts slightly. Gently swirl chocolate through caramel layer for marbled effect. Cool in pan on rack. Makes 36 bars.  Note: I made these in the morning and wanted to taste them before I put this recipe in the paper. Oh, my gosh… they are so good! I ate one bar and could have eaten a couple more but they are quite rich.  Also, I melted The last amount of butter (JUST UNTIL IT MELTED )  before I added the brown sugar to pour over the pecans. I didn’t have milk chocolate chips so I used semi-sweet

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SOUTHERN PRALINE BARS
1-1/2 c. flour
1 t. each, baking powder and salt
1/2 c. lard or shortening
1-1/2 c. packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
3/4 c. chopped pecans
Praline frosting (recipe follows)

Combine first three ingredients in a bowl, mixing well; set aside. Melt lad or shortening in  qt. saucepan over medium heat.  Remove from heat. Add next 3 ingredients; beat well, using a spoon. Stir in dry ingredients, mixing well. Stir in pecans. Spread  mixture in a greased or sprayed 9x13-inch baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly on rack.  While bars are baking, make frosting.

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PRALINE FROSTING
2 T. butter
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
2 T. light cream (half and half)
1 c. powdered sugar

Combine first three ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until butter Is melted; stir until mixture is smooth. Stir in 1 c. powdered sugar; beat until smooth, adding more sugar, if necessary, to make frosting spreadable.  

Spread frosting over warm bars. Makes about 36 bars.

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GRAHAM CRACKER CHEWS
1-2/3 c. graham cracker crumbs.
2 T. flour
1/2 c. butter or margarine
2 eggs, well beaten
1 t. vanilla
1-1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

In a medium bowl, combine 1-1/3 c. cracker crumbs, and flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Press mixture into a greased or sprayed 9” baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile beat together eggs and vanilla in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, blend together remaining 1/3 c. crackers crumbs,  brown sugar, baking powder and nuts; stir into eggs. Pour mixture over baked crust. Bake at 350 degrees 20 minutes or until mixture is set. Cool on wire rack.  Makes about 25 bars.

Thought for the Day: Soon it is Memorial Day. If you go to the memorial in town, at a cemetery or at home, say a prayer of thankfulness for the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for us.

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