7 Layer Bars

This recipe for 7 Layer Bars is the second half of my blog with my niece, Lyndie. These bars are so good! I have been resisting the urge to make a batch and munch on them while I am finishing this blog. It is rainy today in Iowa, and the rain is turning into ice (It is January in Iowa, so anything is possible weather wise.) So, the icy streets are the only factor that is keeping me from making a dash to the grocery store so I can make these. They are so good, they won't last long.

Lyndie & Ray at Lyndie's Senior Recital.

This recipe is Ray and his wife, Norma's, special bars they made each year at Christmas. Norma passed away, but Ray still makes them. Lyndie said that Norma loved to bake and was really good at it. She thinks that some of that may have rubbed off on Ray. Ray is Lyndie's 3rd Grandpa. Lyndie describes him as a North Woodsman, a classic Minnesotan, and an excellent fishing guide.

Ingredients:

1- pkg. graham crackers (not 1 full box)
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 -11 oz. bag of butterscotch chips
1/2 -11 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (we used Ghirardelli)
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup flaked coconut
1-14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

Printable version of recipe: 7 Layer Bars PDF

Gather the ingredients.
(Notice the Minnesota shaped cutting board .)

Crush 1 package graham crackers.

Melt 1/4 cup butter or margarine over medium heat.

Finely crush them.

Use a cup to break up the crackers, if you don't have a food processor.
(Lyndie says, "Life isn't always easy.")

Then, when that doesn't work, use a spoon.

Measure the graham crackers, 1 package will be 1 cup.

Add the melted butter to the crushed graham crackers.

Stir to combine.

Pour into an ungreased pan. Lyndie says her secret is to use a round pan.
This one was a 9-inch pan.

Pat mixture evenly to the edge of the pan.
Since this is 7 layer bars, we thought that the butter is one layer,
and the graham crackers are another layer.

We used Ghirardelli chips. They are very good!

Spread approximately 1 cup of butterscotch chips over the graham crackers
for the third layer.

The fourth layer is 1 cup of chocolate chips.

Distribute them evenly for a uniform taste.

No blog is complete without a rubber chicken.

Add 1 cup chopped pecans. Lyndie prefers them over walnuts.
She also likes to go to the fresh bins.
The other alternative would be to go to Florida and get them fresh and crack them yourself.

The sixth layer is flaked coconut.

Spread 1 cup evenly over pecan layer.

For the 7th layer,
drizzle sweetened condensed milk evenly over all the ingredients.
This will make it moist and help to bind everything together.
For this size pan we used about 1/2 of a 14 oz.can.

Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes.

The ingredients will be melted together and evenly browned.

Lyndie's tip of the day.

Her free advise is, "Never do your own dishes, life is too short.

Leave them for your roommate."

Let them cool before cutting.

Perfect!

What says comfort more than Tuna Noodle Hot Dish & 7 Layer Bars?

Delicious!

Enjoy!

Lyndie, Toneworks Music Therapy Services, LLC.

Lyndie Walker's Summary:

Lyndie is a co-owner of Toneworks Music Therapy Services, LLC. It is a private music therapy clinic that serves a variety of ages and populations. They offer 1:1 and group sessions as well as adaptive lessons. Group sessions focus on specific populations including Pervasive developmental disorder social skills groups, Early Childhood academic groups, Mommy and Me infant classes, and dance/yoga class.

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

This month is Music Therapy Advocacy Month.

At New Brighton Health & Fitness Expo in January .
To find out more about Toneworks go to: www.toneworksmt.com

A Tour of Minneapolis!

Our personal Tour Guide!

The beautiful Mall of America.
The MOA opened in 1992 and is America's most visited mall.

Lillian & Lyndie at Cantina # 1 after a busy day of cooking and shopping
with Doug & I.

Nickelodeon, the #1 entertainment brand for kids, and Mall of America®, the nation’s premier shopping destination, have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind theme park. Located in the center of Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe® features seven acres of unique attractions and entertainment. Meet the Nick characters, experience spine-tingling rides, visit unique retail shops and much more!

Doug & I navigated through the Amazing Mirror Maze in the MOA.

Nicollet Mall & Downtown Minnie

We had dinner at the Brazilian Restaurant Fogo De Chao.

ABOUT HENNEPIN AVENUE | NICOLLET MALL

The streets of Hennepin Avenue and Nicollet Mall are home to prominent attractions and prestigious businesses in Minneapolis. You can step outside your hotel and choose from first-class performance venues that feature Broadway theater, modern dance and local productions.

Walker Art Center

We toured the Walker Art Museum which featured the art of Cindy Sherman.

Breakfast at Hazel's.

Cupcake

You need to check this out if you are in Minneapolis.

They have a huge selection of mouth watering cupcakes.

They won the Cupcake Wars on the Food Channel.

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Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives: Kramarczuk Deli

Amazing deli & old Minneapolis Nordeast landmark by the Mississippi. Since 1954. Serves Eastern European Ukrainian comfort food specialities and hot and cold sandwiches with their own made there gourmet sandwiches.