::Breakfast Bars::

{via LargeFamilyMothering}

MY KIDS REALLY LOVED THESE IN THE MORNING. ALSO, I USED THEM FOR SNACK LATER WITH FRUIT, OR CRUMBLED INTO YOGOURT.

1 1/2 cups butter
3 cups brown sugar
Cream together. Add:
5 eggs
Mix.

Add:
3 cups oats
2 cups flour
3 tablespoons baking powder
2 cups raw wheat germ
1 1/2 cup coconut
2 cups nuts
2 cups raisins

Grease two 9 x 13" baking pans, fill each with half of mixture. Bake at 350*F until golden brown.
Cut into bars and serve in a bowl of cold milk.
We make these the night before--they are more nutritious than granola (they contain eggs and not so much oil or sugar).

::Apple Cream Cheese Squares::

THIS TIME OF YEAR I AM ALWAYS ON THE HUNT FOR APPLE RECIPES. THESE SQUARES ARE EASY AND DELICIOUS. THEY HAVE A BUTTERY BASE AND A CREAMY LAYER ABOVE, WITH A BIT OF CRUNCH ON TOP. YES, THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE SQUARES MADE WITH BLUEBERRIES, BUT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW VERSATILE THEY CAN BE. I RECOMMEND TRYING THE APPLE VERSION FIRST, THEN FEEL FREE TO MIX IT UP A BIT!
{Recipe found via Harrowsmith Country Magazine}

Pastry Bottom:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1/2 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Whirl in a food processor until coarse crumbs form.
Press into a lightly greased 9" x 9" pan.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden around the edges.
Remove and let cool.

Cream Cheese Layer:
1 pkg cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla

Place in food processor and whirl until smooth.
Pour over cooled crust.

Apple Layer:
4 large apples, {I used fresh Mac's}, peeled and sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Mix sugar, cinnamon and sprinkle over sliced apples.
Arrange apples over the cheese layer. Sprinkle with almonds.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

BAKER'S NOTES: I serve these cold. Like lemon squares, I prefer the refreshing taste of the cols squares, along with the extra crunch the base develops.

Mom's Double Chocolate Brownies

ANOTHER CLASSIC THAT RICH IN CALORIES & GOODNESS.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, melted
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 t vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 t baking soda
6 oz chocolate chips

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt butter over low heat along with the chocolate. Remove from heat and let cool a bit.
3. In a bowl beat eggs. Add the sugar and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture once cooled.
4. In a separate bowl, mix flour and baking powder. Add to wet ingredients.
5. Stir in chocolate chips.
6. Pour into a greased 9"x13" pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

Lemon Coconut Squares

CLASSIC TANGY GOODNESS

Base:
1 cup melted butter
2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar

Combine all and press into a 9" x 13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes

Lemon Topping:
4 eggs
2/3 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 t baking powder
1 1/2 cups toasted coconut

Combine all and pour over cooked base. Bake fore a further 25 minutes.
Cool completely before cutting.

BAKER'S NOTES: The recipe calls for 2 cups of sugar and no coconut in the topping, but I reduced the sugar and added toasted coconut pieces. Do as you please.
Also, I prefer these squares chilled in the fridge. Very refreshing.

Maple Pecan Squares

Truly one of the most decadent squares I have every eaten. This was my Christmas indulgence. I always tear through the seasonal Food & Drink Magazine to find the inspiration fro my Christnas baking, and i found this gem. Warning: Very rich. Eat in small squares with something mild to sip on, like tea, or steamed milk.

Maple Pecan Squares

Shortbread Base:
1 cup flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/2t fine salt
1/4t baking powder
1/4t ground cinnamon
1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

Pecan Layer:
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup pure maple syrop
2t pure vanilla extract
1/4t fine salt
1 large egg
1 3/4 cups coarsely chopped pecans

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease 9'' square pan. (Consider also lining pan with wax paper.)
3. For base, combine all base ingredients in a food processor until crumbly, or do it by hand with a whisk. Press mixture into pan and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool.
4. Combine all pecan layer ingredients. Pour on top of cooled base and bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until bubbling around the edges.
NOTE: It will appear very loose when removed from the oven, but it's supposed to. Just let it cool, or put in in the fridge until cool and it will solidify nicely.

These should be kept cold. They can actually be eaten right out of the freezer.

Coconut Lemon Squares

Mix and press into greased 13"x9"x2" pan:
2 cups flower
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter or margarine (softened)
Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes.

Stir together:
4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
Add:
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Then add:
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cups cocnut
Pour over baked crust. Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes, until the middle is not too runny. (If it's runny, you'll have to eat it with a fork or spoon, but the bars are really good that way, too!)

Cool and glaze with:
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
3-4 Tablespoons lemon juice.

Cool slightly (or completely) and cut.