rhapsodic.org is a weblog by Valette Keller

Toffee Bars

1- Finish a load of dishes and see that it is 8.30pm.

2- Remember the potluck at work tomorrow and you have nothing to bring.

3- Whine about not wanting to go to the store.

4- Pull out your Betty Crocker cookbook and flip aimlessly.

5- Stop on a page entitled: "Toffee Bars".

1 c stick butter, softened
1 c packed brown sugar
1 t vanilla
1 large egg yolk
2 c flour
1/4 t salt
2/3 c chocolate chips

6- Preheat the oven to 350°.

7- Mix the butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and egg yolk in a large bowl. Pick out one chunk of brown sugar "too hard" to mix in well, and make "mmmm" sounds while you chew it.

8- Stir in the flour and salt. Press dough into a 13x9 ungreased baking pan. Wonder if there will be enough dough for such a large pan, but go with it anyway because you don't want to dirty something else.

9- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until very light brown. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on hot crust. Sprinkle some more chocolate chips on. A little more. That's good.

10- Let stand about 5 minutes or until soft. Spread the chocolate with a spatula. Lick the spatula off.

11- Cool 30 minutes in the pan on a wire rack. Forget about it until morning when you can't cut it into squares or chip it out of the pan.

12- Reheat it in the oven at work on it's lowest setting for 10 to 15 minutes until soft again. Cut into 32 squares and let cool on plates before serving.

13- Read the nutritional information and vow to not eat a single one. Eat one and a half at the potluck.