Everyone’s experienced it: a memory so vivid, you could taste it.
Earlier this week at the library, MaryBeth and Junior were reading a book called “Jalapeno Bagels”, based on a Hispanic/Jewish bakery in Southern California. One of the recipes in the back of the book was for “Chango Bars”. While reading, MaryBeth had flashbacks to a favorite recipe from her childhood, Congo Bars. Now, middle age might slow the congitive flow at times, but she did eventually realize that the recipes were one and the same. “You say tom-A-to, I say tom-AH-to”…
Once home, MaryBeth called for a professional consultation. Her mother provided the recipe that MaryBeth used to make those bars many many times in her youth. Lyrics from bad 80′s music she remembers. Recipies, at least this one, she doesn’t.
So…here it is, now fondly called “Chongo Bongo Bars” in the DINKS household.
Chongo Bongo Bars
Dry Stuff
1 c. whole wheat flour (NOT in my mother’s original recipe)
1 3/4 c. white flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder (2.5 for lowlanders)
1 c. chocolate chips
Wet Stuff
2/3 c. butter
2 cups packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
Melt the butter in a pan over low heat.
Remove from heat and mix in the brown sugar. (Taste liberally at this point. Hmmm)
Add eggs, one at a time
Add dry stuff (except for chips) a little at a time until thoroughly blended.
Stir in chips.
Pour into a greased 8×13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. As MaryBeth’s mother stated twice in the ten minutes it took to provide the recipie: DON’T over-cook these!
While waiting, lick mixing bowl.
Enjoy these spectacular treats from a lifetime ago and take a trip down memory lane to your (or someone else’s) childhood.
and her older sister would ALWAYS put nuts in them, nuts had to go in any kind of bar…
And while I really love nuts now, and eat at least 2 handfuls every day, I didn’t like them when I was a kid, and I REALLY didn’t like them in my bars. I guess that dislike has carried over to adulthood. Except for brownies, I never put nuts in my bars.
Yum, those looks so good! And I appreciate recipes adjusted for altitude! Remind me to make these in a few months when I can turn my oven on again. (Or else I’ll have to get Dave to cook them in the dutch oven in the front yard.)
My daughter had an appt. today and was actually TRYING to go BACK to school due to just this recipe. She had tears in her eyes and said, “Now, I can’t get the Chongo Bar recipe all because of I had to go to the stupid appointment!” Then, the tears fell. My heart broke and I am so grateful this is ON HERE…THANKS A MILLION AND MORE!
Christie and LiAnna
I forgot to mention…she is 7. Have a great day. I can’t wait to try these.
C.
Thanks for posting this to the web. My son who is seven years old brought a copy of the recipe home but he couldnt remember the title of the book and I work many many hours like many working moms and have not had the opportunity to ask the teacher for the title of the book. Thanks again.
Working Mom