Chili Palmer
11-07-2010, 03:31 PM
There are other names for this, but this is what Mom called them so that's what I call them. These are a quick and better alternative to brownies and they're great out of the oven with vanilla ice cream on them - a great cold weather treat!
Confection Bars:
Preheat oven to 350
1 stick margarine (but will be called butter from here on)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1-1/2 packs graham crackers - regular, not low fat
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
Use a 9"x 13" metal pan and cut the butter stick into pieces - you don't have to but it melts faster.
Put break up the graham crackers and put them into a zip-lok bag and try to remove all the air. Now get a rolling pin or a large can of beans and break the crackers into fine crumbs.
Now go back to the pan with the butter in it - take it to the stove top and place it over a burner at one end and heat the pan melting the butter. If you're real slick you can hold the other end of the pan with your hand an keep moving the pan to keep the butter from burning or boiling - or you can just put it in a glass cup an put it in the microwave, (I do it in the pan, it's one less dish to wash).
After the butter is melted put the pan on the counter (or some place that's heat proof), and mix the graham cracker crumbs with the melted margarine. When it's mixed well take a spoon or your fingers and spread evenly over the bottom of the pan.
Now spread evenly that 1 cup of coconut over the graham cracker/butter mixture, now the chocolate chips.
Remove the top of the can on the sweetened condensed milk (don't use that triangle can poker opener or "church key" can opener). This stuff is thick so try to pour it evenly over the top of the coconut and chocolate chips, you might need a flexible spatula to clean the can out. (Tip: sweetened condensed milk is sweetened condensed milk so go to the Hispanic section of the store and get the one that's called La Lecheria brand - it's made by Nestle and it's usually a couple of bucks cheaper than Borden's SCM).
Now put in the oven for 22 - 30 minutes depending on how your oven heats, when the edges start to get tan keep checking on it. I like it when the majority of the sweetened condensed milk is kind of a light tan toasty look. Pull them out and let them sit for a few minutes cut them up and have them with ice cream or let them sit a little longer and eat them by themselves.
Be creative and add other goodies like peanuts or pecans to the mix or use butterscotch chips (too sweet for me).
Good stuff!
Confection Bars:
Preheat oven to 350
1 stick margarine (but will be called butter from here on)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1-1/2 packs graham crackers - regular, not low fat
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
Use a 9"x 13" metal pan and cut the butter stick into pieces - you don't have to but it melts faster.
Put break up the graham crackers and put them into a zip-lok bag and try to remove all the air. Now get a rolling pin or a large can of beans and break the crackers into fine crumbs.
Now go back to the pan with the butter in it - take it to the stove top and place it over a burner at one end and heat the pan melting the butter. If you're real slick you can hold the other end of the pan with your hand an keep moving the pan to keep the butter from burning or boiling - or you can just put it in a glass cup an put it in the microwave, (I do it in the pan, it's one less dish to wash).
After the butter is melted put the pan on the counter (or some place that's heat proof), and mix the graham cracker crumbs with the melted margarine. When it's mixed well take a spoon or your fingers and spread evenly over the bottom of the pan.
Now spread evenly that 1 cup of coconut over the graham cracker/butter mixture, now the chocolate chips.
Remove the top of the can on the sweetened condensed milk (don't use that triangle can poker opener or "church key" can opener). This stuff is thick so try to pour it evenly over the top of the coconut and chocolate chips, you might need a flexible spatula to clean the can out. (Tip: sweetened condensed milk is sweetened condensed milk so go to the Hispanic section of the store and get the one that's called La Lecheria brand - it's made by Nestle and it's usually a couple of bucks cheaper than Borden's SCM).
Now put in the oven for 22 - 30 minutes depending on how your oven heats, when the edges start to get tan keep checking on it. I like it when the majority of the sweetened condensed milk is kind of a light tan toasty look. Pull them out and let them sit for a few minutes cut them up and have them with ice cream or let them sit a little longer and eat them by themselves.
Be creative and add other goodies like peanuts or pecans to the mix or use butterscotch chips (too sweet for me).
Good stuff!