Friday, March 2, 2012

10 days away and 7 layer bars later


I've been gone.  By gone I mean in Arizona for 10 days for work.  Please note this is not me complaining.  I had fun, we got 5 meetings done (leaving 13 to go for the season), the food was good, the company was good, AND my "office" was outside overlooking a fountain pool in the warmth of Arizona.  Plus I totally had fun playing with my iPhone all week and taking pictures.  I have missed baking though! 

Seriously, I had free time this past Sunday afternoon for a bit and wished I could have been baking.  So what does a girl do?  Well, what did I do?  I planned out my baking for the next week.  It was my was of scratching the invisible itch to bake.  First up 7 layer bars, as requested for my coworkers birthday.  Then one of my very favorite people in the world is coming to visit and we are going to bake up pistachio shortbread in the shape of mustaches for her guest post of mustachio pistachio shortbread.  Then, there might be some test baking, plus two more office birthdays next week!

These seven layer bars are simple.  The are literally seven ingredients...they are sweet and a bit salty...the are crunchy and chewy...basically they are delicious and it is really hard to eat just one.  So if you want something easy to just throw together, try these, they are always a crowd please and will always remind me of my childhood!  Enjoy!

It is always fun to travel for work, but it is great to be back.  To be in my kitchen covering the floor in flour as I have a tendency to do and getting vanilla all over the counter.  


There were palm trees everywhere... 
My first taste of fry bread at the arts festival....fried honey sweetened with a hint of cinnamon


The fruit at meetings is amazing...and the best part, someone else does all the hard work for you...


A few orange tree along my run, along the canal...


Oh dinner seating time...


Back to the bars...chocolate chips are layer #4


Seven Layer Bars: (recipe adapted from Eagle Brand)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1-14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 cup chopped walnuts

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray a 13 x 9 inch cake pan with non-stick cooking spray and cover with parchment paper.

2.  In a large mixing bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs and melted butter.  Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.

3.  Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over graham cracker layer.  Layer the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut flakes and walnuts over the top of the milk.

4.  Bake for 22-25 minutes or until lightly browned.  Loosen from the sides of the pan while still warm, cool on wire rack.  Cut into diamonds or squares.  Enjoy!


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1 comment:

  1. Hey Lauren! I had no idea you liked baking for fun! Love your blog! I love baking too! Check out my blog!

    ReplyDelete