Pecan Pie Bars

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I love pecan pie and, if it weren't so caloric, you'd see it far more often on my table. Despite the calories, I break my own rules during the holiday season and often serve it as a dessert, though in a slightly altered form. A slice of pie following a holiday feast boggles my mind, but I can deal with bite-size bars that are packed with the same ingredients and flavors. This is my favorite recipe for pecan bars. It comes from McCormick and I think you would agree these folks know a thing or two about spices. While the bars are delicious and easy to make, I've not had a lot of luck freezing them. They do, however, keep for up to a week if they are kept in an air-tight container or tightly wrapped. They are also a great excuse to practice will-power and avoidance of the old "one's not enough, two is too many" syndrome. Here is how this version of the bars is made.

Child's Play - Raspberry Mazurka Bars

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...These homespun and tasty treats will set you dancing. The cookies are loosely based on Maida Heatter's Polish Wedding Cakes and more about their creation can be found at the Cake Spy, which you can find HERE. I wanted to post this recipe before Mother's Day, because this is another treat that the kids can make for Mom or Grandma. It, obviously, is a simple recipe and the only problem that you might encounter is that the cookies can be hard to cut and very crumbly if the bottom layer of the bars is not firmly packed into the pan. I have used raspberry preserves in this rendering of the recipe, but strawberry, peach, apricot and blueberry can also be used with delicious results. If you have never tried a Mazurka I hope you will give this simple version of the recipe a try. Here is how the bars are made.