Keep It Simple

We're going to have lots of activity around here the week of Christmas so I'm trying to plan ahead and enjoy it all. When my children were younger I read in a magazine that by asking everyone their favorite treat I could reduce the amount of baking I did. No kidding! All three of them chose the same thing, Buckeyes (chocolate dipped peanut butter balls). This is now a favorite of my grandsons.

Back to keeping it simple. This is the house where my husband always chooses Birthday Pie- Pecan is his favorite.I'm going to make Pecan Bars- they are a cross between pie and Pecan Tassies.

Here's the recipe from Baking Basics and Beyond (Surrey Books, 2006).

Pecan Pie Bars


If pecan pie is one of your favorites, you’ll love these easy-to-make bars. For a fast, fabulous dessert, cut the bars into 2- or 3-inch squares, heat them slightly in the microwave, and top the warm squares with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a spoonful of caramel sauce.

MAKES 48 BARS

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter, cut-up

Filling
2 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted

Heat oven to 350°F with oven rack in middle.
Combine flour and brown sugar in bowl of a heavy-duty mixer. Add butter and beat on Medium speed until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press the crust into bottom and slightly up sides of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake 12 minutes. The crust will be lightly browned.

Filling
Beat brown sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla in same mixer bowl on Low speed until smooth. Stir in pecans. Pour into crust.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until set in center. A knife inserted in center will come out clean but wet. Cool on wire cooling rack before cutting. Refrigerate bars.