Food Assignments - Chocolate Chip Bars / Pecan Dreams / Brownies (2)

I love food assignments because it gives me a chance to try recipes! Today my assignment was a large platter of cookies. Will is getting baptized - what a great occasion for our family. Anyway, I made three batches of cookies and included them on this platter. Here are the recipes.

CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS
(Geralee)
2/3 cup Wesson Oil
1¼ cups brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
Mix together and add:
2¾ cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2½ tsp. baking powder
1 pkg. chocolate chips
Bake in cookie sheet (10x13) for 15 min. at 350°F.

I followed this pretty much as is, and it turned out great. Although I think my oven is a little off or slow, so I baked it until I was sure the dough was firm.

PECAN DREAMS
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 cup sifted cake flour
Spread and press with fingers, cook until a delicate brown. [About 10 minutes at 350°F.]
2 eggs, beaten lightly and add
1½ cups brown sugar
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Sift together
1 cup chopped pecan nut meats
1/2 cup shredded coconut
Spread this on first mixture and bake.
Cut in oblong pieces. [20-30 minutes or until topping is firm.]

This recipe could be a nightmare - I'm not sure. Actually, it is quite delicious but I had a few problems. Notice there was no pan size given. I started spreading the first dough in a 9x13 pan and it seemed too thin. Then I got an 8x8 pan and it seemed OK, maybe a little thick. Anyway, I stayed with that. Should probably have stuck with the 9x13 or found something in between. The topping was way too full for that small a pan. After 20 minutes it still didn't look done. I just left it in as long as I dared and took it out to cool. When I cut the first pieces an hour later, it still seemed really un-done. Braving a disaster, I put it back in the oven at 325 and kept watching, I bet another half hour. DON'T try this at home. I think there's a problem with the pan I was using. Anyway, the cookies taste wonderful even though I did have to trim the edges for fear a breaking someone's tooth. Next time I'll use a bigger pan.

BROWNIES (2)
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 cubes margarine
4 eggs
1/2 cup cocoa
Mix together well. Add 1 cup nuts. Bake 350°F for 30 minutes in dripper pan.

These are actually "Roz Capell Brownies" which I have made for years. Mother worked at Lincoln Junior High with my friend Roz, and I'm sue she got this recipe from her (or maybe from me). I like to add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla to this recipe. I didn't want to frost them so I sprinkled chocolate chips on top.