Date Walnut Bars

A friend at the Thrift Shop handed me a Diamond Walnut Recipe Favorites booklet.  So I decided to bake because today on Long Island we had several inches of snow and I wasn't going anywhere.

 I assembled all of the ingredients.

 First,  the recipe called for three (3) eggs beaten, and one (1) cup of packed brown sugar whisked together until light and fluffy.

 Next three (3) tablespoons of melted butter which I put in one of my smallest cast iron frying pans.

 I added the melted butter to the eggs,

 There were some lumps of sugar which I blended better.

One  (1) cup of sifted all-purpose unbleached flour,

 two (2) teaspoons of instant coffee,

 One (1) teaspoon baking powder,

 one half (1/2) teaspoon salt,

 were sifted again with the flour.

 and it looked like this.

I added the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and blended it well.

 One (1) cup of chopped walnuts,

 was added then,

 I sliced each pitted date lengthwise,

 and reduced those slices by mincing the dates again with my knife.

The recipe called for one (1) cup of sliced pitted dates.

 They were added to the mixture and blended with a spatula.

 I used a spray butter,

 and brushed it on the glass pan measuring about 13" x 9" x 2",

 trying to get it evenly spread in the pan.

The recipe called for a 350 degree F oven

 The chocolate topping was melted in a double boiler,

 one and one half (1 1/2) tablespoons of butter

 and one (1) cup of chocolate pieces.

I have to admit that this part of the recipe really didn't come out as well as I had planned.

 This is the cover of the booklet from Diamond Walnuts.

 After 25 minuted of baking I took the pan out for cooling.

 The spray helped it come out effortlessly.

 I cut it into twenty-four (24) pieces.

The topping came out poorly, because I must have over cooked the chocolate.

 I used a spreader to top the bars which were cooling on a wire rack  covered with brown paper .

 I looked around for a small plate with a winter scene and a lovely tea cup and saucer.

 The company label on the bottom of the saucer.

Ready for tea time, but when I make this recipe again I just might use prepared frosting for a smoother topping.  You may have better luck. 

Date Walnut Bars

3 eggs

1 cup brown sugar., packed

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons instant coffee

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

1 cup sliced pitted dates

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet real chocolate pieces

1 1/2 tablespoons butter

350 degrees F.

20-25 minutes baking time