Nut Bars

Did you all think I've stopped cooking?  Me, too.  Actually, I haven't been playing much with experimental foods, because my pea sized brain is occupied with so many other things.  So I write book reviews and take pictures of the yard instead.  Anyway....

I found this recipe in a Good Housekeeping cookbook I scored at a used book sale a while back.  I thought it would be like my blondie recipe, only bigger, so I changed it up a bit to suit me, but it had a more cake-like consistency.  That didn't stop the boys from finishing them in a heartbeat!

NUT BARS

1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs or 1/2 cup egg beaters
1 cup walnuts (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Beat the margarine and brown sugar until combined.  Add all of the other ingredients except the walnuts and/or chocolate chips, and beat until smooth and bright tan, about 2 minutes.  Stir in walnuts and/or chips, and spread in a greased 13x9 pan - I used my Pampered Chef stoneware pan, and it was marvelous!  Bake at 350F for 28 to 32 minutes, or in a convection oven at 350F for 24 minutes.  Let them cool before serving (if your family will keep their grubby mitts to themselves that long).

I put walnuts in all of my pan, but chocolate chips in only half, because (a) I don't like them, and (b) they're loaded with cholesterol.  Plus, my dearly beloved only likes chocolate chips in actual chocolate chip cookies.  You can see the texture of these nut bars here!  Like I said, my boys had plenty for dessert, then snacked at the balance of the pan after breakfast and after school the next day.  They lasted until almost 4.

Have a great weekend, everyone!