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A to Z Recipes
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June 10, 2005
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Publisher's Desk
Ramblings
Did You Know?
Reader Support
Birthday Babies
Discussion Forum
Crazy Corner
Bar Cookie Favorites
Heart Healthy
For Two
Publisher's Choice
Good morning to one and all. I'd like to wish all of our Canadian family a
very Happy Canada Day. You look so grand in celebration of your 138th birthday!
Today's issue contains recipes for easy-to-make
cookie bars. Tena and Jackie had their birthdays on the 29th and
30th (respectively) and I'm hoping the recipes will make for some great desserts
for their families. The recipes came from Betty Crocker, two from a former a2z
subscriber, a couple from product labels, or from my own recipe files. I hope
you all enjoy them.
You know how I brag on my kids. Hey, I'm a mother! I would like to brag on my
Angela (again, lol). She has been a Girl Scout for many years. You earn
"badges" in scouting. There is flexibility in how this is achieved. To earn
another badge (for her service cord), Angela chose to work the summer at a
nearby school, assisting with under-privileged "latch-key" kids, in a special
program called "Smart Kids". No big deal, right? Well, she is expected at the
school at 7:30 daily (Monday - Thursday) and does not come home until after the
last kid is on the bus which is about 4:00. I am so very proud of her, not only
for choosing to remain a Girl Scout, but for dedicating herself to a project
that is strenuous and uses four weeks of her hard-earned summer vacation. She
knows the real badge being earned will be awarded after her time
here is over. For all the times I may whine about my kids, I will try to
remember this summer.
Help make us NUMBER ONE !
Cookbooks, Recipes, Gourmet Cooking from Amazon
Help make us NUMBER ONE !
If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again
I'd finger-paint more,
and point the fingers less.
I would do less correcting,
and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch,
and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less,
and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes,
and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious,
and seriously play.
I would run through more fields,
and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging,
and less tugging.
I'd build self-esteem first,
and the house later.
I would be firm less often,
and affirm much more.
I'd teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.
Source:
Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul 1996
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Patty Hansen
Help make us NUMBER ONE !
BAKING BETTER BAR COOKIES
Easier to bake than drop cookies, bar cookies are a treat few can resist. Here
are 10 great tips for baking better bars.
When making bar cookies, pay close attention to the size of the pan called for
in each recipe. Variations can throw off baking times and could affect the
texture too. For instance, if the pan is too large the dough may dry out and the
bars will be too thin. While if the pan is too small the bars may become gummy
in the center or more cakey than they should be.
With the exception of bar cookies made with a delicate shortbread base (like
lemon bars) you can line the baking pan with heavy duty aluminum foil to insure
easier removal later. For best results be sure to extend the foil several inches
over the pan leaving enough overhang on the two opposing ends to use as handles.
The easiest way to shape the foil is to turn the pan upside down, and then
smooth the foil around its contours until the right shape is achieved.
For bars to boast of and pretty enough to package up and give away, use a large
sharp chef's knife to trim away the outer dry edges of the bars before cutting
them, wiping the blade clean with a damp towel after each cut.
Never use diet or whipped margarine or any product labeled "spread" in your bar
cookies, the results will be regretful.
Like any other cookie dough, be sure once you add the flour to the batter (as
well as other dry ingredients) you don't over-mix the dough. Too much handling
will develop the gluten in the flour producing tough bar cookies.
To allow for fluctuations in oven temperatures, be sure to check your bar
cookies at least a couple minutes before the minimum baking time suggested has
elapsed.
Use vegetable shortening, nonstick vegetable spray, or unsalted butter or
margarine to grease baking sheets and pans. Salted butter may cause bar cookies
to stick and over brown on the bottom.
If using a glass baking pan instead of one made of metal make sure you reduce
the oven temperature by 25*F (10*C).
Generally, bar cookies are done when a wooden pick inserted in the center comes
out clean or a moist not wet crumb is adhered to it.
Ideally bar cookies should be cooled and stored right in the baking pan, though
most are cut after they've cooled. The exception is crisp-style bars, which must
be cut while warm--before they crisp--to prevent unsightly crumbling.
Source: Laurann Claridge, Chef and Food Talk Columnist of the Houston Chronicle,
Houston, Texas, USA.
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Would you like to celebrate your birthday with us here at A to Z Recipes?
We would love to help you strike up the band and light the candles on that cake.
Please send your request using
this link. Tell us some basic information:
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You may include anything else you would like to share such as:
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Your hobbies
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This information will help us get to know you as well as help celebrate your
special day. Knowing our a2z family, I am sure it will help others find shared
interests and make new friendships. Because of time constraints, only birthdays
shared using the appropriate link and basic information
will be considered.
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recipes and give feedback about what is going on in A to Z Recipes.
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*Offensive postings will be deleted by the publisher.
Family Reunion Photos!
Our first one was
June 2004. Check out
Leslie and Rusty's pics from
December 2004. The most recent
gathering was held May
2005.
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Parents' Dictionary
AMNESIA: condition that enables a woman who has gone through labor to have sex
again.
DUMBWAITER: one who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.
FAMILY PLANNING: the art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to
keep you on the edge of financial disaster.
FEEDBACK: the inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained
carrots.
FULL NAME: what you call your child when you're mad at him.
GRANDPARENTS: the people who think your children are wonderful even though
they're sure you're not raising them right.
HEARSAY: what toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.
IMPREGNABLE: a woman whose memory of labor is still vivid.
INDEPENDENT: how we want our children to be as long as they do everything we
say.
OW: the first word spoken by children with older siblings.
PRENATAL: when your life was still somewhat your own.
PUDDLE: a small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes
into it.
SHOW OFF: a child who is more talented than yours.
STERILIZE: what you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to your
last baby's pacifier by blowing on it.
TOP BUNK: where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING: when the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those
familiar grunting noises.
VERBAL: able to whine in words
WHODUNIT: none of the kids that live in your house.
Source: Unknown
TOP TEN REASONS WHY BOXERS ARE BETTER THAN TEENAGERS:
10. THEY'LL NEVER ASK YOU TO BUY THEM A CAR. Like teens, dogs love riding in
cars. Unlike teens, they don't mind going in your car. Consequently, you won't
need to buy exorbitantly expensive extra insurance and you'll never waste hours
at traffic court waiting for your kid's speeding ticket to be heard.
9. IF THEY SNEAK OUT OF THE HOUSE, THE WORST THING THEY'LL DO IS PEE ON THE
NEIGHBORS' SHRUBS. It's unlikely that the dog will sneak out of the house
without your knowledge, but if he does, he might venture into forbidden
territory. Of course, your teenager might also pee on the neighbors' shrubs when
he sneaks out of the house, but that's a different story altogether.
8.THEY DON'T CARE IF THE POODLE DOWN THE STREET HAS A COOL NEW HAIR CUT --
THEY'RE HAPPY THE WAY THEY ARE. Your teenager -- especially if it's a boy --
will undoubtedly come up with some strange color and/or style for his hair,
designed to drive you crazy. Of course, you ignore it because you know that
undue attention to it will only strengthen his resolve to keep it, but you're
cringing inwardly. You will never experience this with your dog. They live to
make you happy. Isn't that refreshing?
7. YOU NEVER HAVE TO COAX THEM TO EAT PROPERLY. True, both your dog and your
teen would be happy eating at McDonald's seven days a week, but that's where the
similarity ends. Your teen will scowl about the importance of eating a balanced
diet, but your dog will gladly chow down anything you put in front of him.
6. YOU CAN MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THEY PRACTICE SAFE SEX. Neutering of
teenagers isn't legal -- yet -- but one can always hope.
5. OBEDIENCE SCHOOL COSTS A LOT LESS THAN COLLEGE. Even if your dog needs to
stay after school or go for remedial tutoring, your expenses will never come
close to what you will shell out for a college education. Any fraternity parties
your dog participates in will probably involve bags of kibble, not kegs of beer.
4. THEY'RE NEVER MOODY, AND WHAT'S MORE, THEY DON'T MIND IF YOU ARE. Teens and
hormones never make for a pleasant combination. But even if your dog is intact,
you'll never feel the effects of PMS or pent-up frustrations. They're happy
creatures, all the time. What more could you ask for?
3. THEY'RE HAPPY TO BE SEEN IN PUBLIC WITH YOU. If you've ever driven your
under-16 teenager to the movies or the mall only to be asked to drop him off
down the street so he won't be spotted with you, you know what I mean. A
teenager avoids being seen with his parents for eight years. A dog wants to be
with you for twice that long.
2. YOU'LL NEVER HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, "WHERE DID I GO WRONG?" There are no bad
dogs. End of story.
. . . and the number one reason why boxers are better than teenagers is . . .
THEY NEVER STOP TELLING YOU HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO FOR THEM.
Hopefully, one day the teenager will grow up and realizes how lucky he is to
have had parents like you. If you're fortunate, you may even hear a "Thanks,
Mom," or "You were right, Dad." But your dog won't make you wait until he's out
of adolescence. You will know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how much your dog
loves you from the moment you bring him home until the day he closes his eyes
forever.
Source: Suite101.com
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GERMAN CHOCOLATE BARS
1 (18 1/4 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
2 cups pecan pieces
4 eggs, divided
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 (16 ounce) package confectioners??™ sugar
In large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, pecans, 1 egg and butter; mix well. Pat
mixture into bottom of 13 x 9-inch greased baking pan; set aside.
In large bowl, blend cream cheese, remaining eggs and confectioners' sugar until
smooth. Pour over cake mixture. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until
set. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.
Source: Betty Crocker (sent to me by a former a2z'er)
LUSCIOUS LEMON BARS
1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Mix dry cake mix, 1 egg and oil until crumbly; reserve one cup of mixture. Pat
remaining mixture lightly into an ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake 15
minutes at 350 degrees.
Beat cheese, sugar, lemon juice and remaining egg until light and smooth. Spread
over baked layer. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 15 minutes longer.
When cool, cut into bars.
Source: Betty Crocker
CHOCOLATE GOOBER BARS
1 (18.25 ounce) box devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease bottom only of 13 x 9-inch pan.
In large bowl, combine cake mix, brown sugar, peanut butter and butter or
margarine at low speed until crumbly. Add milk and egg. Stir until blended.
Spread in prepared pan. Sprinkle with peanuts; press nuts into mixture. Bake for
25 to 35 minutes or until bars are set. Cool completely; cut into bars.
Yield: 36 bars.
Source: Betty Crocker
BUTTERSCOTCH BARS
Base:
1 cup crisp rice cereal, crushed to 1/2 cup
1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1 egg
Topping:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butterscotch ice cream topping
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9-inch pan.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, butter and cereal at low speed until crumbly.
Stir in butterscotch chips. Reserve 1 cup crumb mixture for topping. Add egg to
remaining mixture; mix well. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
In the same bowl, blend cream cheese and ice cream topping at medium speed until
smooth. Spread over base. Combine 1 cup reserved mixture and pecans; sprinkle
over filling. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes or until light golden
brown. Cool completely. Cut into bars.
Source: Betty Crocker (sent to me by a former a2z'er)
PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE BARS
1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup (6 ounce) semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
In a bowl, combine cake mix, peanut butter, egg and oil. Press two-thirds of the
mixture into prepared baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5
minutes.
In a heavy saucepan, heat the milk, chocolate chips and butter over low heat;
stir until blended. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake
for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars.
Makes 2 1/2 dozen.
Source: Cake mix box label
PECAN PIE BARS
1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1-1/2 cups dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Reserve 2/3 cup dry cake mix.
To remaining dry cake mix, add the butter and one of the eggs. Mix until
crumbly. Press into a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake until brown.
Mix well the reserved cake mix, brown sugar, remaining eggs, corn syrup, vanilla
and pecans. Pour over browned crust and return to oven and bake for 30 to 35
minutes longer. Cool; slice into bars.
Source: Pecan package label
CHOCOLATE-CREAM CHEESE BARS
1 (18.25 ounce) box devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Mix the cake mix, butter and eggs by hand until smooth. (Mixture will be thick.)
Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and spread mixture into pan.
Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 box confectioners' sugar
With an electric mixer, blend the cream cheese, eggs and sugar together until
smooth, making sure there are no lumps. Pour mixture on top of cake mixture.
Bake for 1 hour. Cool before serving.
Source: Betty Crocker
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PUMPKIN BAR COOKIES
1 Betty Crocker Super Moist Light Yellow cake mix
16 oz can Libby's solid pack pumpkin
3 eggs or 3/4 C liquid egg substitute
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
Glaze:
1/2 C powdered sugar
1/4 tsp orange extract
1 Tbs skim milk
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix with pumpkin, eggs
and spices for 3 minutes. Pour batter in a 15x8 inch jelly roll sized pan that
has been spayed with Pam. Bake for 23 minutes. When bars are cool and just prior
to serving, frost bars with glaze. Glaze only the portion of the bars that will
be eaten, as this dessert does not keep well once the glaze has been spread on.
Unfrosted bars can easily be frozen for later use.
1 bar when cut into 24 pieces:
60 calories, 3 calories from Fat
Source: Betty Crocker
Help make us NUMBER ONE !
STRAWBERRY BAR COOKIES
1 package strawberry muffin mix (6-8 muffin size)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup strawberry jam
confectioners' sugar
Heat oven to 325 degrees.
With fingertips or a pastry blender, combine muffin mix and butter until
crumbly. Pat into an ungreased 9-inch square pan.
Bake 20 minutes.
Spread jam over crust. Return to oven and bake 10 minutes more.
Sift confectioners sugar over jam. Cool and cut into squares.
Makes 12 small bars (great for the two of you for a few days!)
40 minutes total
10 minutues prep
Source: Label from a packaged muffin mix
Help make us NUMBER ONE !
KNOCK YOU NAKEDS
1 (18 1/2 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup evaporated milk, divided
3/4 cup butter, melted
60 vanilla caramels, unwrapped (one 14 ounce package)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
In a large mixing bowl, combine dry cake mix, pecans, the 1/3 cup evaporated
milk and melted butter. Press half of the batter into the bottom of a greased 13
x 9-inch glass baking dish. Bake in a preheated 350F degree oven for 8 minutes.
In the top of a double boiler over simmering water, melt caramels with remaining
1/2 cup evaporated milk. When caramel mixture is well mixed, pour over baked
layer. Cover with chocolate chips. Pour remaining batter on top of morsels.
Return to preheated 350F degree oven and bake for 18 minutes. Let cool before
cutting into squares.
Makes 16 to 20 bars.
Source: I went to a bridal shower and someone brought these, along with the
recipe (yes!), to share.
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