Best Cookbook Ever

I’m not sure if it was all that birthday pie, but my sweet tooth is acting up lately. I am trying to get motivated to go to the grocery store today, and I think the lure of some baking supplies might just get me there.

This is my favorite cookbook of all time.  Technically, it’s my mom’s.  She got it when I was probably 10 or 11, and I would spend hours pouring over the recipes, begging her to let us make things like “Choco-Orange Fluff” and “Fruit-Filled Chocolate Dreams.”  I can really only vouch for the recipes that sounded funny and appealing to me when I was 11.  That’s why I am an expert at making “Chippy Chewy Bars” (see below).  When I moved out, my mom let me take the cookbook with me.  Ok, to tell you the truth, I’m not even sure I asked.  Mom, I really needed it.  I’m sorry.

Ok, here’s the recipe for Chippy Chewy Bars.    This is one of those recipes that is simple and gooey and completely unpretentious.  You make the whole thing in about 20 minutes just dumping ingredients into the pan.

Chippy Chewy Bars

The Hershey’s site has the list of ingredients right here.

My notes on the instructions:

Preheat oven to 350° F.  Place butter in 13 x 9 pan and set in oven until melted.  Remove pan from oven; sprinkle crumbs evenly over butter and press down with fork.  Layer 1 cup peanut butter chips, coconut, and then remaining 2/3 cup peanut butter chips over crust.  Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over the top.  Bake 20 minutes or until coconut is lightly browned.  Remove from oven.  In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chip and shortening in the microwave at High for approximately 1 1/2 minutes (or until chips are melted when stirred).  You could easily substitute other melted chocolate if you don’t want to use the shortening/chocolate chips.  Cool completely and cut into bars.  Enjoy!