Recipes

[Kachina624]

I want to share this recipe which I've been making since high school.  It's in my grandmother's handwriting and she died about 40 years ago.  The variations you can make are endless.  Heres the original recipe.  I have no idea why theyre called Congo Bars.

Congo Bars

2/3C  butter, margarine or shortening

2 1/4C light brown sugar or a combo of brown & white

3 eggs

Beat until well mixed.  Then gradually add:

2  3/4C flour

1/2t salt

2 1/2t baking powder

Add one package chocolate chips and 1 C chopped nuts.  Pour into greased 9 X 13" pan and bake at 350° 25-30 min.  Cut into squares when almost cool.

I like that I can make cookies without standing in the kitchen for hours.  I've made every combination of ingredients, substituting oatmeal, cornflakes for half the flour, adding coconut and candied fruit at Christmas.  Tonight I added grated rind of one orange and white chips.  I've added raisins and all types of chips.  I suppose you could use peanut butter and chopped peanuts in place of the fat.  Chopped apple and oatmeal would be good too.  You can't mess this recipe up and it's quick and easy.

[nana59]

never heard of a congo bar until i met my future mother-in-law in 1971.  been making them ever since!!

[happycat]

I have this recipe. My mom wrote it out for me, with several others when I got married 30+ years ago. I'm gonna have to make it, sound so good.

[Silver Fox1]

I'ev been making Congo Bars for years, so easy and my kids loved them, so much easier than making, what seems like, endless batches of chocolate chip cookies LOL !   

[Susan in California]

@Kachina624

Looking forward to trying these.  I like the idea that the basic recipe can be changed up with so many different additions.

Thoughtful of you to share with us.  Thank you.

[Kachina624]

I didn't realize it but this recipe must have been the "in" thing maybe back in the 40s or early 50s, perhaps featured in some magazine.  Interesting.

[Sooner]

In the 1960s we made Magic Bars, which were also called 7-layer bars or Hello Dolly Bars.  Now that's a blast from the past too!

[dex]

@Sooner I remember those bars.How I wish we could go back to the good old days before we knew that sugar,fat and gluten were bad for us.I loved to eat home baking and was really good at it....by that I mean the eating part.Now I don't bake and it seems none of my friends do either.

[Sooner]

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@dexwrote:

@Sooner I remember those bars.How I wish we could go back to the good old days before we knew that sugar,fat and gluten were bad for us.I loved to eat home baking and was really good at it....by that I mean the eating part.Now I don't bake and it seems none of my friends do either.

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@dex  That's a shame because there are SO many beautiful baking pans now!  

[AuntG]

My two cents - use dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.