Traditional Harvest Bar Delight

by Millie Bentley

Greetings. My friend Nancy Cross sent me this recipe. She makes it for the holidays and here are her comments: “Here is a recipe that my mother used every holiday season the whole time I was growing up. When I left home, I carried on the tradition in my family. Even though my children have moved on with their lives and Corbie and I are traveling quite a bit, they still want me to make it.”
Minnesota Harvest Bars
½ cup melted shortening (do not substitute)
2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. soda
1 tsp. each cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
1 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup flour (add a bit more if pumpkin is watery)
1 cup nuts
1 cup raisins or chopped dates
Mix together shortening and brown sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in baking powder, salt, soda, spices, flour and pumpkin. Bake in a well-greased 9” x 13” pan at 350˚F for about 40 minutes or until done. When cooled, bars can either be left plain or frosted with creamy orange frosting. Makes 2 dozen bars. (This is SO deliciously moist!)
Until next week, dear Readers, vaya con Dios.