Several years ago, after Hurricane Sandy devastated so much of the East Coast, help began to pour in immediately. But here in the farther inland parts of the U.S., we were left wondering what we could do, other than donate money?
In times of disaster, we all wish we were able to do more. Many people don’t want to give to a nebulous charity, fearing scams of all sorts.
One of my publishers friends, Rebecca Vickery, came up with the idea of a recipe book. The authors that wrote for her three imprints were asked if they wanted to contribute recipes to go in the book. The proceeds from the sales of the book would go to one of two charities, which we voted on. By a large margin, Save the Children was our choice.
The book was a work of love that we all participated in, some with more than one recipe. It was filled with quite a variety, and even though on the cover it says, “Featuring favorite holiday recipes by various authors”, there are several in this book that I have made all through the year. Who can wait for the holidays to have some of these scrumptious treats–especially now when we are at home more and more?
I’m sharing my contributions with you today, but there are plenty more where this came from in this little gem of a book—many of them easy and geared for our hectic lifestyles. I’ve been cooking a lot more lately with the COVID-19 pandemic going on, so I’m always on the lookout for new and different recipes!
I can certainly vouch for the two below—Blonde Brownies has been a staple in our family since I was born. It was on a “Brownie” recipe sheet when both of my sisters belonged to a troop, and my mom was a leader. This recipe is one of those that doesn’t last long around our house—the ingredients are items you usually keep stocked, and it’s easy to make. Same with the Hello Dolly Bars.
Though the book is out of print, it’s still available in limited quantities on Amazon from 3rd party sellers.
BLONDE BROWNIES
4 eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1½ cups flour
2 ½ cups brown sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
½ cup (OR MORE!) choc. Chips
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Beat eggs well. Add brown sugar gradually, beating until well mixed. Add vanilla, flour, salt and mix well. Add chopped nuts and mix. Pour into a greased, 9×13 pan and sprinkle chocolate chips over top of the batter. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes (depending on your oven). This makes a 9×13 pan of brownies. You can half this recipe for an 8×8 pan, and reduce cooking time to 25 minutes.
HELLO DOLLY BARS
½ cup butter
1 ½ cup graham cracker crumbs
1 six oz. package chocolate chips (I always add extra!)
1 can Eagle Brand milk (sweetened condensed milk)
1 1/3 cups shredded coconut
1 cup chopped nuts
Pour melted butter into a 9×13 pan. Cover evenly with the following: graham cracker crumbs (press down to soak up the butter), nuts, chocolate chips, coconut. Pour milk on top. Bake at 350 F. until lightly brown or chips have melted (about 25 minutes). Cool before cutting.
(You can also add some butterscotch chips along with the chocolate chips for variation.)
Cheryl’s Amazon Author Page:
Blonde brownies are my go-to comfort food! I can eat them any time of the day or night! Do you have a favorite recipe you love to make? PLEASE SHARE!
Ice cream is my comfort food.
I have to admit that is a favorite “comfort food” of mine, too. And I’m not all that particular about the flavor, either! LOL
I think I might make those brownies mine.
HA! Debby you made me laugh! Once you make them, they will OWN YOU!!! LOL Seriously, I sometimes just make them out of defiance and eat them for breakfast if I want. LOL
I don’t think I have a go-to comfort food.
MaryEllen, there are sure times I wish I DIDN’T! LOL
I love making homemade cinnamon rolls. I am a fan of cinnamon and enjoy adding cinnamon to my heart’s desire. The Hello Dolly Bars are similar to the seven layer bars that I make for my son’s family. And it’s been years since I’ve made blonde brownies so I might give that a try today. Thanks for the recipes Cheryl. Blessings in your day.
Kathy, I love, love, love cinnamon too! Yes, those Hello Dolly Bars are almost identical to the seven layer bars–one thing for sure, everyone loves them. I usually don’t even like coconut in anything, but I love it in this. Have a great day today, and thanks for stopping by!
Those sound delicious.
I love brownies, too.
Denise, I think out of every kind of dessert, brownies of any kind are my favorite, followed by dessert bars of about any kind. I love those lemon bars. Haven’t had those in ages.
Chocolate brownie’s is the big hit around here.
They are a huge hit around here, too–especially since I found a gluten free mix on Amazon that is just WONDERFUL. Both my grown kids have an intolerance for gluten, so I was sure glad to find those.
Oh, these sound good!! I’m going to have to try them!!
Trudy, you will not be sorry…oh, wait. Sometimes I AM sorry because I can’t stop eating either of them. LOL Seriously, you will enjoy both of these, and they are so easy to make.
Both amazing recipes, Cheryl! I thought your Hello Dolly bars sounded familiar, so I checked my fave recipes, and sure enough. They are what I used to make as “Magic Cookie Bars!” A classic. I must have made them a hundred times when my girls were little. And yes, I used Butterscotch chips, too! So good!
Pam, yes, I remember seeing this recipe somewhere in a cookbook that had them being called Magic Cookie Bars, and that’s because they truly ARE magic! LOL That blonde brownie recipe was the first thing I ever learned to bake, so that’s how easy those are! But you can’t beat them for deliciousness!
Hi Cheryl, yummies! I have made Dollies—they’re awesome, and can’t wait to try those brownies. xo
Oh, Tanya, I sure hope you will give those brownies a try. I just love them so much…and hey, if we can eat pastry for breakfast, then brownies are fair game too, I say!
Brownies or chocolate chip cookies are my comfort food.
I’d probably have to say either one of those things, too, Barbara, but I might have to add ice cream. LOL
I make the Dolly Bars, but use chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. I have always called them Seven Layer Cookies. Thanks so much for sharing. God bless you.
Debbie, it seems like I remember them being called Seven Layer Cookies later on after we learned to make these in home economics in high school (Yeah, I’m OLD!) I don’t think when we learned to make them that they had even invented butterscotch chips yet!
Both good recipes that I have made and eaten over the years. There is only one copy left for resale on Amazon. I was in NY after Sandy with the Red Cross. For it and any of the other major relief organizations, money is the best thing to send. It is hard to handle donated items and often they are not things that are needed. All can use money to buy the supplies they need, often at a discounted price from partner organizations. The recipe book was a great idea. Other books have been done for other charitable causes and I have purchased several of them. Thanks for supporting the effort for Sandy. All valid, hard working charities need all the help and volunteers they can get.
Yes, they sure do need the help and volunteers, Patricia, and I know YOU know that better than most, having worked so closely with so many different charities out there. I wish, in hindsight, that I’d bought up a bunch of copies of that recipe book we did, because it had some really fabulous recipes in it! So glad you stopped by!