• CRUST
  • 1 tablespoon softened butter
  • 2 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
  • 1/2 kosher salt
  • 1 extra large egg, beaten
  • TOPPING
  • 2/3 cups honey
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 4 cups your favorite mixed nuts

Today is Day Two of my Bake-A-Thon.

I love to bake.

I also love my friend Sharon and her family to the moon and back.

Conner, Sharon and Mike’s eleven-year-old son, will be shaving his head in memory of his sister Macie this Saturday.

The money he collects will be added to Team Macie and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

 

Baking. I love baking. Maybe that will help.

I sent out a list of goodies in the hopes of a good response.

And then… my neighbors, friends, family, and people I had never met, came through and in a BIG way!

GO TEAM MACIE!

I truly love you all!

 

I love this Albert Einstein quote,

“Nothing truly valuable arises from ambition or from a mere sense of duty; it stems rather from love and devotion towards men and towards objective things.”

—Albert Einstein —

 

We are very much looking forward to rooting Conner on as he shaves his head in solidarity with cancer sufferers, and in honor of his sweet baby sister, Macie.

 

Please donate to Team Macie here.

 

(In loving memory of this sweet baby girl loved by so many. Macie McCloud)

 

Rustic Nut Bars

 

There’s so much I love about these bars. I love them so much that I added them to the fundraiser list.

 

These nut bars caught the eye of my friend N.C. Secretary Elaine Marshall.She’s my cooking buddy so naturally i sent her the list as well.

These bars are a real treat and you can really use any kind of nut(s) like. I love the crust found on the bottom of each bite. It’s particularly flaky.

If you care about your teeth, resist the urge to overcook your honey and brown sugar mixture.

Just sayin’ cause I love you — and your pretty teeth.

Here’s how easy these bars are to make:

1. Use one tablespoon of softened butter to grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a food processor fitted with a blade or in a large bowl using a pastry cutter, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut the cubed in until coarse crumbs form.

3. Stir in the egg until blended. (It will be a dry mixture.) Press firmly into your prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.

4. in a heavy saucepan placed over medium heat, bring honey and brown sugar to a boil, stirring for two minutes until the sugar dissolves. . Add your butter and cream. Bring to a boil and stir for one minute.

5. Remove from the heat. Add your nuts and stir to coat.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

DO NOT put your finger in thsi mixture to taste. It is HOT – HOT – HOT! Now don’t you laugh because I actually did this once.  We can sometiems get very busy in the kitchen and forget these things.

Like your teeth, your skin is important, too. If you touch this sugar mixture your skin will well, burn off!

6.  Pour your nut mixture over your crust and spread evenly. Bake for another 15 minutes.

7. Allow the bars to cool completely before using a sharp knife to cut them.

 

My sincere, sincere gratitude to each and every one who ordered baked goods, gave extra and drove across town to pick them up. I love you all and I know that Macie is smileing!