Magic Bars

Tis the Season...

for holiday snacks!

As part of my annual mission to sweeten everyone up prior to the holidays I made a family favorite, Magic Bars.

Mom gave me this recipe a long time ago and I just LOVE them!  So ooey gooey, chocolatey and rich...Wowzer!  We've made these bars off and on over the years.  I sure you come to find they are a great staple for holiday goodies!

The first batch was given to my co-workers. One person said, "What makes them Magic Bars?" to which I replied, "They are so rich that they will send you in to euphoria, taking all your cares away!.  Man oh man, they were all gone in 20 minutes.  They LOVED them.

A mix of coconut, butterscotch, chocolate, pecans, and other tempting ingredients, make these over the moon!  You may know them as Hello Dolly Bar, or Seven Layer Bars...but to us they are "Magic Bars".  Another plus for these bar is that they are simple to assemble, you can prep them in 15 min. tops!  I love that, easy and quick!  Especially when you are making a load of holiday goodies.

MGG's staff gets to eat the 2nd batch...wooowee!  Hope they like them.

So I hope you add these bars to your list of sweets you are making this season.  They are delishhh and sinful!

Magic Bars

Makes 30 bars

Ingredients

2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 13 crackers)

6 Tablespoons melted butter

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

1/2 cup butterscotch chips

2/3 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a medium bowl. Press mixture onto bottom of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch pan. (TIP: I buttered my pan, but I might suggest using parchment paper to line the pan for easy removal)  Bake for 8 minutes.

Sprinkle pecans, chocolate morsels, butterscotch chips, and coconut the hot crust. Pour condensed milk over top.

Bake at 350° for 20 - 22 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges.  Place pan in a wire rack and allow to cool for 30 min.  Cut into bars.

Baby Acorns - A Holiday Treat

It's Holiday time!

Time to get your snack on...!

Do you make holiday treats?  What's your favorite?  Do you bake, make candy, quick breads, cookies, or maybe fudge?  There is such an array of holiday treats how does a girl decide which one?

I like to make goodies and spread the wealth to my friends at work, and to fatten up MGG's employees as well!  I usually end up making several varieties of goodies to share.  Growing up, I remember our neighbor always bringing us a plate full of cookies, fudge, and other treats to munch on during the holidays.  I looked forward to it every year.  My favorite?  She made these spritz cookies, and tinted the little trees green, and sprinkled them with little colorful beads.  Reminded me of a pretty Christmas tree. Oh the buttery softness, they melt in your mouth.   I loved them!

When you are making a variety of goodies it's nice to have some simple, but cute, items to make.  Something not too involved to fill in the basket.

These are just that, cute, simple, and delishhh!  My Baby Acorns, have such a cute look.  No baking involved. The most time consuming part is unwrapping the candy kisses!  So it's really just a matter of assembly, and that's done with mini vanilla wafers, and some chocolate frosting (pre-made!)  How easy is that?

I hope you try these cute little nibbles, they are perfect to give to the your co-workers, neighbors, teachers, classmates, whomever loves a bite of chocolate!

Baby Acorns

approx 60 acorns

1 box of mini vanilla wafers
1 bag of Hershey's kisses
1 tub of chocolate icing

Unwrap your chocolate kisses.  Set out your mini vanilla wafers.  Place a couple of heaping spoons of the icing in a plastic sandwich bag and press out the air and close.  Push the icing down to one corner and twist the top to use this as a piping bag.  Cut of a small piece of the corner for the opening.

Pipe a dollop of icing on each mini wafer, the flat side.  Place the flat side of the chocolate kiss against the flat side of the wafer.  The icing becomes your glue.  Place on a try until the icing sets.  If you would like you can make a little tip with the icing on the outside (rounded side) of the wafer.

Apple Cider Iced Tea

Do you love Iced Tea?

I sure do.  It's got to be my favorite drink.  A staple in my house.


Mainly I'm a purist with my iced tea.  Just plain black tea, that's the best.  Since it's cold outside most people steer away from the iced drinks.  Not me!  I still have my ice tea!  


So let's change it up a little, get a little crazy.  Let's trying adding some fall/winter flavors to the tea.
Let's try Apple Cider Iced Tea.


Super simple to make.  A modification on the original recipe.  If you want to know how to brew the perfect iced tea, following my directions located here (make sure to omit the orange).


To make this variation just add your favorite apple cider.  You can use homemade, or store bought.  I used my favorite cider from Trader Joe's, it has a wonder blend of apple flavor and spices.


The result?  A crisp, refreshing, fruity tasting drink, with warming notes from the black tea and the spices.

Apple Cider Iced Tea


1/2 Gallon of iced tea
1 cup apple cider, at room temperature or cold.


To brewed iced tea add the apple cider, stirring to combine.  Serve over ice.