30 Minute Oatmeal Pecan Squares

Growing up, I thought my mom was one of the best cooks on earth, and I still do think that.  What I have found out over the years that she has lots of tried and true recipes that she loves.  Most of them come from little paperback church and 4-H cookbooks.  Most were published several years back when almost everyone actually cooked and only went out to eat for special occasions.

Growing up we called these cookies Mary Charlton Cookies, because that is who made them for the church dinners and who entered the recipe in the Presbyterian Church Cookbook back in the 1970's.  My mom still remembers helping to type the cookbook.  There was no fancy company to typeset everything and make it look pretty.  Nope just farm moms and hard working volunteers who took on the labor of love.

My mom loves this recipe.  She usually make a double batch in a 9x13 inch pan.  She tells everyone she can walk in the house make these bars, take a shower, change clothes and be ready to go to a potluck dinner in 30 minutes!  My mom is amazing.

We loved these cookies growing up and I hope you do, too.

Oatmeal Pecan Squares

1 stick butter

1 egg

¾ cup sugar

¼ cup flour

¼ t. baking powder

½ t. salt

¾ cup oatmeal

¼ cup shredded coconut

¾ cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400*.  Place stick of butter in 7x11 inch baking dish and place in oven. 

Combine egg and sugar.  Add flour, baking powder, salt and oatmeal.  Pour in melted butter and mix well.  Add coconut and pecans and mix.

Pour batter back into baking dish you melted the butter in.

Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

-A Kansas Farm Mom

W4DW- Hello Dolly Bars

What's for Dinner Wednesday?  A recipe my kids can make all by themselves!  My boys love to help out in the kitchen.  They like it even better if I sit on the other side of the counter and stay out of the way!  These bar cookies have lots of names that I have heard over the years

• Magic Cookies
• 7 Layer Bars
• Hello Dolly Bars

We like to call them Hello Dolly Bars just because we made them for a 4-H demonstration and it made for a cute talk.  :)

Hello Dolly Bars

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch or peanut butter chips
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 can sweetened condensed milk

I like to make them in a 9x13 inch baking dish.  Most recipes call for 1 cup of graham crackers, but we prefer to make them with 2 cups mixed with 1/2 cup butter.  Press this mixture into the bottom of the baking dish.   Layer the other ingredients in order and pour sweetened condensed milk over the top.  DO NOT STIR.  Bake at 350*F for 25 minutes.  Cool and cut into bars. 

The next time the kids say we need cookies for school don't say "Oh No!"  instead say "Hello Dolly!!"

-A Kansas Farm Mom