Hello, Dolly!

It’s the middle of March 2012, and it’s time for something to give. Mr. Bobo knows that come October or November every year, his model-thin waistline (ahem) will begin to expand. The holidays are an impossible time to consider dieting.  For one thing - the women in my family feel obligated to make an incredible variety of horribly tempting delicious sweets. And as if that weren’t enough, social obligations start filling up the calender, and trips to the gym become more and more difficult to schedule.  Much self-discipline is required.  Self-discipline has never been Mr. Bobo’s strong suit.

But now it’s the middle of March, and it’s time to get serious (ahem) about cutting back on the enchilada plates, margaritas, and W. D. Deli desserts, and getting back to those days of spending the afternoons with my iPod shuffle at the gym.  Sounds good, right? Whatever.  We have a new baker named Kevin at W. D. Deli.  We also have a new dessert bar.  Not really new.  These are bars that my mom used to make. The combination of Kevin and these dessert bars is way too sweet for me to handle.

Mama Liz called them Hello Dollies.  It may have been another one of those passed around recipes from family gatherings, church socials, or something. Wherever they originated, once they were made and then chilled and then cut into squares, they never lasted long.

You can look up Magic Cookie Bars on pretty much any recipe website and find them.  I think it’s one of the recipes that used to be (maybe still is) on the inside wrapper label on those cans of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. Easy to make. Easier to eat. Not so easy to work off.  But I’ll try.

Here’s the recipe:


Hello Dollies / Magic Cookie Bars

Ingredients

1/2 cup margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Into bottom of 9 x1 3 pan pour melted margarine. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over melted margarine, chopped nuts over crumbs, then distribute chocolate chips over nuts. Add the coconut and pour milk over all.
Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Cool 15 minutes before cutting into finger length bars.