Chocolate Coconut Bars

Ingredients

• 3 C finely ground cookies (12 oz.) such as graham crackers or chocolate wafers
• 1/4 C sugar
• 3/4 C (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter melted
• 1 C pecan pieces
• 1 C semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
• 1-1/2 C sweetened shredded coconut flakes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375, line a large cookie sheet (with sides) with parchment paper (smear sheet with butter or shortening so the paper sticks).
2. In a large bowl, stir together cookie crumbs, sugar, and butter until combined. Press evenly onto bottom of prepared cookie sheet. Bake rotating halfway through, until firm, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool about 20 min.
3. Sprinkle cooled crust evenly with pecans and chocolate chips. Pour condensed milk over the top, spreading to cover completely. Sprinkle with coconut, pat down with a spatula so it doesn't brown too quickly.
4. Bake until coconut is toasted, 10-15 minutes. Transfer to rack, cool completely. Cut into squares.

**You can experiment with the toppings and use a combo of choc. and butterscotch chips or use a different type of nut. Makes about 20 bars.

Herb's Hunks

Sorry ladies! Don't have any soup ideas today, but thought I'd submit my first recipe! I'm sure you'll notice a trend in the upcoming months. My recipes will typically be VERY SIMPLE! Please not that although I'm not a huge fan of cooking, I do love to eat! This recipe was made famous by my hubby's father- Herb. So easy, and everyone seems to love it.

1 package milk chocolate chips

1 package peanut butter chips

1-2 cups honey roasted peanuts

In microwave safe bowl, heat packages of chocolate and pb chips together for one minute. Stir, then heat again for one more minute.

Add honey roasted peanuts.

Drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

Refrigerate!

Easter Nests

With Easter just around the corner (March 23rd), I figured I would share this one. It is very easy and is fun for the kids! My daughter is allergic to peanuts so I think I'm going to try it with Almond butter instead. Hope it turns out!

1 (20 ounces) jar marshmallow cream
1/4 C creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 (5 ounces) can of chow mein noodles
1 C pastel M&M's


Beat marshmallow cream, peanut butter, and butter until smooth. Fold in noodles. Chill until easy to handle. On waxed paper, form mixture into 3 inch nests. Add the M&M's in the middle (they are the bird eggs). Chill until ready to serve.

cut out cookies

Due to my husband being out of town this is the last thing I have cooked or baked...

Sugar Cookies
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 cup butter crisco
2 eggs
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 Tblsp vanilla
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups flour

Preheat oven 375. Mix Sugar and crisco. Add eggs, corn syrup, vanilla and mix. Add baking pdr, baking soda, and salt, mix. add flour at intervals mixing. If the dough is too soft put in the refrigerator for an hour. Roll into balls or roll out and cut out your favorite shapes. Put on greased cookies sheets and bake for 6-8 minutes. Let cool and frost.

Happy Valentine's Day!