Congo Bars

This is one of Dave's all time favorite treats. His mom (Glennys) shared it many years ago and I passed it around to my friends as well. That was good thinking because somehow along the way I lost it. Recently Jill Wirth got in touch to see if I still had a copy because she couldn't find hers. I had to resort to the internet to find what I hoped was the same recipe, but luckily, Jill found her copy and sent it to me. All is right with the world now and I'm posting this so it doesn't go missing again! 

Congo Bars

2 3/4 cup Flour
2 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
2/3 cup Margarine
2 cups packed Light Brown Sugar
3 Eggs
1 cup Chopped Walnuts
1 6 oz package Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, melt margarine. Add in brown sugar, stirring until well-blended. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Add eggs,  one at a time, beating well after each one.

Add dry ingredients and mix until fully blended. Add in nuts and chips.

Pour into greased 13" x 9" pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes.

Mint Brownies

This is a recipe shared by Marla Dudley. I met Marla while taking carving lessons from John Adams and one of our scheduled classes happened to fall on my birthday. Marla made these brownies for the group and had candles and a birthday message written on the top ... is was such a nice treat and a wonderful surprise. These brownies are one of my absolute favorite treats. I bring them to lots of gatherings when I want to keep it simple with something like brownies from a box, but also want to dress it up a bit. These are perfect.

Mint Brownies

1 Brownie Mix (family size - for a 13 x 9 pan. I usually buy the Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie mix)
2 cups Confectionery Sugar
1 tsp Peppermint extract
4 drops Green Food Coloring
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted Butter
1 cup Chocolate Chips
6 Tbsp Butter

Prepare brownie mix as directed on box in a 13" x 9" pan. Set aside and let cool.

Use a mixer to blend together the confectionery sugar, peppermint extract, food coloring and melted butter until creamy. Spread frosting mixture on top of the cooled brownies.

Melt the chocolate chips with 6 tablespoons of butter and stir to blend. Spread over the frosting layer. You can pour it on and move the pan around to help coat the frosting layer evenly.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut into 1" - 1 1/2" squares. These are very rich and smaller portions are perfect.

Note: I have decorated on the top of the chocolate layer with frosting in a decorative tube to dress this up for a special occasion.

Scotch Shortbread

Another Christmas time favorite cookie recipe. Mo made these for years and I know that they were her favorite. Best part is they are quick and easy and one batch makes a LOT of cookies. They are a great cookie-tray filler. 

Scotch Shortbread

1 pound (4 sticks) sweet cream Butter (not margarine)
4 cups Flour
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 cup Sugar

Soften butter and cream together with sugar. Add vanilla. Slowly add flour using a wooden spoon. Knead dough lightly with your hands until all flour is mixed in.

Put dough onto a large cookie sheet (jelly roll pan.) Press dough down and roll with a rolling pin so that dough is spread out evenly over the cookie sheet. The dough should not be higher than the edge of the cookie sheet (about 3/4" thick.) Refrigerate for one hour.

Bake 30 - 40 minutes at 300 degrees. Bake until white, not brown. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Sprinkle top of cookies with decorative sugars (such as red and green for Christmas.) Cut into 1" squares.

Can be frozen.

Walnut Squares

This is probably one of my favorite dessert recipes and I know it's a family favorite as well. Grandma (Glennys) made this and gave me the recipe back when Dad and I were first married. She said it's one her family up in Vermont always made, so I guess it goes way back. Dad says the first time he remembers having Walnut Squares was when Grandma made them to serve at the Lily Open House his father hosted for the neighborhood when he was just a little boy.

Walnut Squares

2 cups light brown sugar
2/3 cups margarine
3 eggs
1 cup flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup finely crushed/chopped walnuts

Cream the brown sugar and margarine. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing in each one slightly before adding the next. Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the creamed mixture. Add the vanilla and cup of walnuts. Blend all ingredients until creamy.

Spread batter into greased 13” x 9” pan. Bake at 350˚ for 30 – 40 minutes or until golden brown. Do not overbake.

Sprinkle with confectioners sugar when cooled.