FROZEN S'MORES BARS: Beat the Heat!

What a brutal week it's been. The Bay Area is sweltering. Climate Change! Right now I usually begin posting S'mores recipes to make around the campfire, but because of the heat, I think S'mores can no longer be relegated to camping and summer campfires. Try making this Frozen treat at home! 

This is a variation on traditional S'mores, and it's so easy and great on a hot day: FROZEN S'MORES BARS. You can glam these up by making your own graham crackers or using fabulous chocolate and making your own Marshmallow Fluff (recipe below). But, if you're in a hurry and just want a yummy treat, use store bought grahams, Marshmallow Fluff, and dark chocolate.

How to make these: 
Basically you're freezing marshmallow cream between two graham crackers, dipping the'sandwiches'  in melted dark chocolate and then freezing! How easy is that?

Want to be more precise?

FROZEN S'MORES BARS

Put graham crackers bottom side up on parchment lined cookie sheet. Pipe (use a ziplock with a corner cut out or piping bag) marshmallow cream onto graham crackers and top with graham crackers. Put in freezer to harden (30 minutes).
Melt chocolate in double boiler or microwave. Let cool a bit (can't be too hot or will start to melt the cream).
Keep cookies in freezer until ready to use. Take a few out and dip halfway in chocolate. Put back in freezer. Continue to dip. Freeze until hard.

Want to make your own Marshmallow Fluff?

Ingredients
3 egg whites, room temp
2 cups lite corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 Tbsp Madagascar vanilla

Directions
In bowl of stand mixer with whisk attachment, add egg whites, corn syrup, and salt.
On high speed whisk for 5 minutes, until thick and doubled.
On low speed, add powdered sugar. Mix until blended. Add vanilla and blend.

Want to make Chocolate Graham Crackers for triple the chocolate?
Here's a link to my recipe for Chocolate Graham Crackers!

WALNUT DAY: Rocky Road Brownie Bars

Today is National Walnut Day, and I thought I'd focus today on one of the ways to incorporate walnuts in baked goods, specifically Brownies. Now, I often add chopped walnuts to Brownies, but here's a 1971 Diamond Walnuts Retro Ad & Recipe for Rocky Road Brownies. The recipe really transforms your favorite brownies into Rocky Road Bars with a thick Rocky Road frosting. So make a batch of brownies either from a box or from scratch and follow these directions. Be sure to add walnuts to the brownies, too!

ROCKY ROAD BROWNIE BARS

Ingredients
9-inch square pan of brownies
1 ounce square unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons soft butter
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup coarsely-chopped walnuts

Directions
Prepare brownies from your own recipe or a mix. Melt chocolate. Combine with soft butter, powdered sugar and milk; beat smooth. Spread over top of cooled brownies. Sprinkle with marshmallows and walnuts. With small spatula, swirl frosting around marshmallows and walnuts. Let frosting set before cutting.

CONGO SQUARES: Retro Ad with Recipe for Blond Brownie Day!

Today is National Blonde Brownies Day. Blond (yes, two spellings) Brownies is a misnomer. Blondies are not Brownies! They get their flavor from brown sugar and not cocoa or chocolate, but they're wonderful for exactly what they are--a great butterscotch 'brownie.' Over the years, I've added macadamia nuts, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, or a combination of these ingredients to the following basic recipe. The variety of additions is huge, and the basic batter is a delicious brown sugar concoction. Blondies are simple to make, and I highly recommend them. I use dark brown sugar because I think it adds more flavor. As in any recipe, the quality of the ingredients makes a difference in your final product.

I love this Retro Ad & Recipe for Congo Squares aka Blondies or Blond Brownies. As always, you can never have too many recipes!

Congo Squares or Bars, by the way, have nothing to do with Africa. There's nothing like these sweets in any African country that I know of...and you can't even grow wheat in Central Africa. So why are they called Congo Squares? Who knows.. maybe because of the exotic ingredients (chocolate, coconut, nuts) which might come from Africa? I also read somewhere that these Congo Squares originated in the Southeast (US). There was a plaza in New Orleans called Congo Square which in the early 19th century was a gathering place for both free and enslaved African-Americans who met for marketing, music-making and dancing... probably not the connection, but a possibility. Whatever the origin, this is a great treat for the weekend! This Nestle ad is from 1949 and doesn't include the cocoanut, but throw some toasted coconut in.

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BARS: Pumpkin Cheesecake Day

Tomorrow is Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, and I thought I'd get a jump on the holiday!

 

Here's an easy favorite recipe involving cheesecake and chocolate -- Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars. This recipe for Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars is adapted from Martha Stewart.com. It's a good recipe as is, but I changed a few things. I make the filling using my mixer, not a food processor. I find the results are smoother, and I'm better able to control the consistency and not over-mix. I always use the very best quality dark chocolate. And, I love a chocolate cookie crust with pumpkin, so there's even more chocolate! These taste and look delicious. You can even stuff these in a school lunch...but they'll probably be eaten long before lunch.

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BARS

FOR THE CRUST
20 chocolate wafer cookies, (half a 9-ounce package)
2 Tbsp sugar
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

FOR THE FILLING
2 packages bar cream cheese (8 ounces each)
1 cup sugar
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin puree
3 large eggs
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp pumpkin-pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
4 ounces dark chocolate, 65-75% cacao, chopped

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving overhang on all sides. Set aside.

In food processor, blend cookies with sugar until finely ground (you should have about 1 cup crumbs); add butter, and pulse until moistened.

Transfer crumb mixture to prepared pan, and press into bottom. Bake until slightly firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Mix cream cheese in standing mixer until smooth. Add sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, flour, pumpkin-pie spice, and salt; mix until combined. Set aside.

Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until melted--or melt in double boiler on stovetop. Add 1 cup pumpkin mixture; stir to combine. Set aside.

Pour remaining pumpkin mixture into prepared pan. Drop dollops of chocolate mixture onto pumpkin mixture; swirl. To create swirls, drag blade of paring knife through chocolate and pumpkin mixtures several times to make marbled pattern. Bake until cheesecake is set but jiggles slightly when gently shaken, 40 to 50 minutes.

Cool in pan. Cover; chill until firm, at least 2 hours (and up to 2 days). Using overhang, transfer cake to work surface. With knife dipped in water, cut into 16 squares. Serve.

ROCKY ROAD BROWNIE BARS: National Rocky Road Day!

Today is Rocky Road Day. Here's a 1971  Diamond Walnuts Retro Ad & Recipe for Rocky Road Brownies. The recipe really transforms your favorite brownies into Rocky Road Bars with a thick Rocky Road frosting. So make a batch of brownies either from a box or from scratch and follow these directions.

ROCKY ROAD BROWNIE BARS

Ingredients
9-inch square pan of brownies
1 ounce square unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons soft butter
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup coarsely-chopped walnuts

Directions
Prepare brownies from your own recipe or a mix. Melt chocolate. Combine with soft butter, powdered sugar and milk; beat smooth. Spread over top of cooled brownies. Sprinkle with marshmallows and walnuts. With small spatula, swirl frosting around marshmallows and walnuts. Let frosting set before cutting.

***

SERVE WITH ROCKY ROAD ICE CREAM!

MOLASSES CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS: National Molasses Bar Day!

Another day, another holiday. Today is National Molasses Bar Day! Molasses is one of those products that not everyone uses any more, but I think you will when you taste these Molasses Chocolate Chip Bars. There are many different wonderful brands of molasses. Be sure to use unsulphured. Try a few different ones for flavor.

MOLASSES CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS

Ingredients

Cooking Spray 

1/2  cup unsalted butter, melted

1/3 cup unsulphered light or medium molasses 

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 

1 large egg, lightly beaten 

1 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 cup chopped walnuts  (optional)

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 9 x 9-inch pan lightly with no-stick cooking spray.

Heat shortening and molasses to boiling in large saucepan, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in brown sugar. Add egg. Beat until fluffy. Combine flour, salt and baking soda in small bowl. Stir into molasses mixture. Blend in nuts and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Spread in prepared baking pan. Top with a handful of chocolate chips (about 1/4 cup)

Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool. Cut into bars.

 

NANAIMO BARS: CANADIAN THANKSGIVING

Canadian Thanksgiving is held on the second Monday in October. It commemorates the first Thanksgiving in North America that was held by Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew in the Eastern Arctic in 1578. They ate a meal of salted beef, biscuits, and mushy peas to celebrate and give thanks for their safe arrival in what is now Nunavut.

I've posted various pumpkin/chocolate pies and puddings for Canadian Thanksgiving in the past. Some of the foods are very similar to the U.S. Thanksgiving. But for today's Canadian Thanksgiving, I have a great recipe for Nanaimo Bars, one of my favorite no bake chocolate treats from British Columbia. You will absolutely love these!

The late Bill Critchfield, a member of my mystery book group, used to make them on special occasions. Unfortunately his safely guarded recipe passed on with him. Since then, I've tried to create his version of Nanaimo Bars (there are so many variations). This has involved trying different recipes and really exploring the whole Canadian Nanaimo history.  Months of Edible Celebrations had a special post devoted to Nanaimo Bars in conjunction with Pecans several years ago. Interesting that the recipe for Nanaimo Bars in The Pecan Cookbook calls for baking. I don't think Bill used pecans, and I'm sure he didn't bake.

Interestingly, The New York Times had a great article on the History, Culture, and Craving for the Nanaimo Bar! Here's a link. 

The City of Nanaimo website says: "According to local legend about 35 years ago, a Nanaimo housewife entered her recipe for chocolate squares in a magazine contest. In a burst of civic pride, she chose to dub the entry not "Daphne's Delights" or "Mary's Munchies", but "Nanaimo Bars." The entry won a prize, thereby promoting the town as much as her cooking. Some American tourists claim sovereignty over the dessert, referred to as "New York Slice" which is sold in many other places in the world. Nanaimo residents refuse to accept this theory, however, believing that once you set foot on Vancouver Island, there are no other places in the world. The official Nanaimo Bar recipe was available as a handout as well as on quality tea towel and apron souvenirs."

Here's a recipe for Namaimo Bars from the Official City of Nanaimo Website:
  
Nanaimo Bars

Bottom Layer
½ cup unsalted butter (European style cultured)
¼ cup sugar
5 Tbsp cocoa
1 egg beaten
1 ¼ cups graham wafer crumbs
½ cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup coconut

Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press firmly into an ungreased 8" x 8" pan.

Second Layer
½ cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp and 2 Tsp cream
2 Tbsp vanilla custard powder  (I use Bird's)
2 cups icing sugar

Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

Third Layer
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
2 Tbsp unsalted butter

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Cool. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.

The really nice thing about this 'refrigerator bar' is that you can adapt it in so many ways by adding different ingredients or substituting different nuts. Very fun! and always good!

Links to other Nanaimo Bar Recipes:

Cookie Madness 
My Baking Addiction (Valentine's Day Nanaimo Bars)
Barbara Bakes
Life's Ambrosia
Playing House (Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars)
New York Times

HOMEMADE MOUNDS BARS: National Chocolate Candy Day

Today is National Chocolate Candy Day. So many recipes to choose from! But since I love Retro Ads, especially those with recipes, I chose this one from Welch's for Chocolate Covered Cocoanut Bars aka Mounds Bars. Mounds Bars are now made by Hersheys not Welch's. The recipe on the Ad is for Chocolate Covered Cocoanut Bars with the final line on the recipe:

"But why go to all this work when no one makes cocoanut bars better than Welch!"

So if you're inclined to make your own, here's the recipe! 

Christmas M & M Magic Bars

I love M&Ms.They're always a great addition to cookies, bars, and brownies! Here's an easy holiday treat to make with the Christmas Red & Green M & Ms: M & M Magic Bars! So festive. Recipe adapted from The Foodnetwork.

Christmas M & M MAGIC BARS

Ingredients 
8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for buttering the dish
14 chocolate graham crackers
One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
One 10-ounce bag mint chocolate chips
1 cup cocktail peanuts, coarsely chopped
 2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup red and green M&M's
1/2 cup coarsely chopped candy canes
1/4 cup red and green sprinkles

Directions
Position oven rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
Line 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving 2-inch overhang on both sides. Butter foil. Pulse graham crackers into fine crumbs in food processor. Add melted butter and pulse to combine (mixture should hold together when squeezed).
Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish and press it into bottom in even layer, using bottom of measuring cup to help. Pour sweetened condensed milk over crumbs. Sprinkle chocolate chips, peanuts, marshmallows, M&M's, candy canes and sprinkles over condensed milk.
Bake until  sides are golden brown and begin to pull away from baking dish, 30 to 35 minutes.
Let cool completely, about 1 hour. Using foil liner as handles, lift bars out of baking dish; remove foil.
Cut into 24 bars.

M&M MAGIC BARS for the Holidays!

I love M&Ms.They're always a great addition to cookies, bars, and brownies! Here's an easy holiday treat to make with the Christmas Red & Green M & Ms: M & M Magic Bars! So festive. Recipe adapted from The Foodnetwork!

Christmas M & M MAGIC BARS

Ingredients 
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for buttering the dish
14 chocolate graham crackers
One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
One 10-ounce bag mint chocolate chips
1 cup cocktail peanuts, coarsely chopped
 2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup red and green M&M's
1/2 cup coarsely chopped candy canes
1/4 cup red and green sprinkles

Directions
Position oven rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
Line 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving 2-inch overhang on both sides. Butter foil. Pulse graham crackers into fine crumbs in food processor. Add melted butter and pulse to combine (mixture should hold together when squeezed).
Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish and press it into bottom in even layer, using bottom of measuring cup to help. Pour sweetened condensed milk over crumbs. Sprinkle chocolate chips, peanuts, marshmallows, M&M's, candy canes and sprinkles over condensed milk.
Bake until  sides are golden brown and begin to pull away from baking dish, 30 to 35 minutes.
Let cool completely, about 1 hour. Using foil liner as handles, lift bars out of baking dish; remove foil.
Cut into 24 bars.

FUDGY CHOCOLATE COOKIE BARS: Retro Ad & Recipe

Here's another great Retro Ad & Recipe. You've probably made something like this before, but this Retro magazine Ad has the recipe. You can always substitute other chocolate chips and different cocoa--and I always use butter (original recipe uses margarine or butter). These are delicious.

FUDGY CHOCOLATE COOKIE BARS

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups unsifted flour
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa
1 cup cold butter
1 (12-ounce) package HERSHEY’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 (14-ounce) can EAGLE BRAND Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar and cocoa; cut in butter until crumbly (mixture will be dry). Press firmly on bottom of 13×9-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt 1 cup chips with sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Pour evenly over prepared crust. Top with nuts and remaining 1 cup chips; press down firmly. Bake 20 minutes or until set. Cool. Chill if desired. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered.

SWEET HEART FUDGE PIE & ROCKY ROAD BARS: Retro Ad & Recipes

Here's a great Retro Ad with Recipes from Diamond Walnuts for Sweetheart Fudge Pie & Rocky Road Bars. How fun and delicious!

Chocolate Bytes: Nestlé's answer to Willy Wonka

Nestlé has released candy bars with GPS-lined wrappers that send a signal to a helicopter with $16,000. (10,000 pounds) Unfortunately you have to live in the UK or Ireland.

Nestlé, the maker of KitKat chocolate bars has hidden global positioning system chips in six candy bar wrappers, released in the United Kingdom and Ireland, that could make someone a little richer.

According to Nestlé, the "We Will Find You" competition will "scramble a crack team of highly trained individuals" to find whoever opens one of the six GPS-embedded candy bars -- one each within KitKat 4 Finger, KitKat Chunky, Aero Peppermint Medium and Yorkie Milk.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the GPS chips are activated once the wrappers are opened, and they then send a signal to Nestlé. The company said the winner will be located within 24 hours by a helicopter for hand delivery of a briefcase containing £10,000, worth about $16,000, in cash.

It wasn't clear when or if the promotion would make its way to the U.S., or if the winning chocolate bars were edible.

Check out this cool video ad..