Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Requested Recipes

I don't have that many "go to" recipes, but the few that I have are fabulous. I shared this last year, but have been requested by my Applique group to post both of these recipes.

Shortbread Cookies
3/4 C soft butter
1/2 C corn starch
1/2 C icing sugar (aka powdered sugar)
1 C flour
Cream butter, add dry and mix until it the dough comes off the sides of the bowl. You might need your hands to get the last bit mixed in. Roll into 1" balls and flatten with floured fork.
Bake 18 - 20 min @ 350. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

These are a Canadian recipe, Naniamo Bars. I used to make a pan of these in July as my husbands birthday cake and one in Dec for Christmas. Now I make 2 pans, one for serving and taking to share and one pan for my girlfriend's husband. 
Bottom Layer:
1/2 C butter
1/4 C sugar
5 T cocoa
1 egg beaten
1 3/4 C graham wafer crumbs
1/2 C chopped nuts (optional)
1 C coconut

Melt butter/sugar in top of double boiler, add egg and stir in to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, nuts, coconut.
Press into ungreased 8x8 pan

Second Layer:
1/2 C butter
2 T + 2 t cream
2 T custard powder (secret ingredient *see below*)
2 C icing sugar
Cream all together and spread over bottom layer. Chill.

*
*

Third Layer:
4 ounces chocolate (I use Bakers semi sweet)
2 T butter
Melt together on top of double boiler and then set aside to cool before spreading on top. Chill in fridge. After it has set up, remove from the fridge and let stand for a few minutes. Score the chocolate and then cut into squares. Return to fridge. If you don't bring it back to room temp, the chocolate just breaks and makes a mess.

These are sweet and oh so delicious. The Birds Custard pudding powder mix is what makes the second layer so good!

Enjoy!

Sharon

3 comments:

Janet O. said...

Love both of these recipes!
My Naniamo Bar recipe doesn't have this secret ingredient--maybe they are inferior to yours. They just use pudding powder. Can you get this custard powder in the States?

paulette said...

Both of these recipes are a MUST have at Christmas...and yes, you have GOT to have the secret ingredient!! I think it give it more flavour and cuts the sweetness...it's just plain...delicious!!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
P

Pat said...

Thank you for sharing these recipes, Sharon. Our local grocery stores carry the basics, but I always crave a specialty store for hard to find items. We are planning on another trip through Canada next summer on our way back to Alaska and I will add that "secret ingredient" to my shopping list!

Blessings to you at this time and wishing you all that is good in 2012.