PUMPKIN BARS

PUMPKIN BARS

This scrumptious recipe is a Paula Deen creation.  When you make it, I guarantee your house will smell amazing.  Fall is just days away and all things pumpkin will be making their way to the table.  If you make this for your family or friends, I'm sure it will be a hit.

While Olivia and I are sorry to see summer pass and the bounty that garden fresh ingredients provide, we are also looking forward to enjoying all of the yummy things we have home canned and frozen.  Most foods are available year round anymore, but eating things when they are in seasons and REALLY fresh, is such a gift.  Pumpkin is one of those seasonal favorites.  Hope you enjoy this tasty recipe featuring an autumn favorite.
-Nanette

PUMPKIN BARS

Ingredients

Bars:

4 eggs
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
15 -ounce can pumpkin
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing:

8 -ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.

To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

SUPER-EASY CHOCOLATE BARS

SUPER EASY CHOCOLATE BARS
It is back to school time for many people and that means less time in the kitchen for many people or at least a change in schedules.  If you are looking for a quick and easy treat to make for home or your next gathering or meeting, this may be just the thing.  These bars don't require many ingredients and are very easy to mix up in a matter of minutes.  These bars cut easily and travel and store well.  Try them now and you may find you even want to add them to your holiday line up of tasty treats.
-Nanette

SUPER-EASY CHOCOLATE BARS

Ingredients:

1 c. butter softened ½ c. sugar 1/8 tsp. salt 2 c. flour 1 – 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk 1 c. chocolate chips ½ c. chopped pecans ½ tsp. vanilla

Directions:

For crust, mix butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar & salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in the flour until combined. Press 2/3 of the crust mixture into 9x13 ungreased pan. For filling, in saucepan combine sweetened condensed milk & chips. Cook & stir over low heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in nuts and vanilla and spread hot mixture over the crust. Sprinkle remaining crust mixture over chocolate mixture. Bake 350 until golden. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Butterscotch Peanut Butter Bars

BUTTERSCOTCH PEANUT BUTTER BARS
If you are looking for a yummy bar cookie for your next carry-in or family gathering, this is certainly worth a try.  Olivia saw this recipe on Trisha Yearwood's Food Network show.  The combination of peanut butter and butterscotch chips makes for a delicious combination.  These bars are also good when you are in a hurry and don't have time for making a complicated dessert.

Olivia and I  will be finding ourselves increasingly short of time in the coming weeks as planting season approaches.  Although it is still a little cool here for planting our gardens, Olivia and I have begun buying buying plants.  Today we purchased a few herbs and can't wait to begin using our own homegrown plants in summer recipes. We can't wait!  Enjoy the cookie bars!
- Nanette

Butterscotch Peanut Butter Bars
Recipe courtesy of Trisha Yearwood

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature, plus more for greasing
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup plus 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
6 ounces butterscotch chips (about 1 cup)
1 cup confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons milk
Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking dish with butter.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and 1/2 cup of the peanut butter. Add the egg and vanilla. Sift the flour with the baking soda and the salt. Mix the oatmeal into the flour and stir the flour into the creamed mixture. Spread the batter in the baking pan. Sprinkle the butterscotch chips over the batter and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until browned around the edges.

Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, milk and the remaining 1/4 cup of the peanut butter until smooth, then spread the glaze evenly over the warm bars. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.