Riot and Frolic

As promised, but a day late, is the most-wanted recipe for the Fabulous Fudge Bars from the St. Paul bakery, Bread & Chocolate.  I'm having a hard time naming this post since I've had other naming responsibilities this week…

This picture does not do it justice.  Nothing can do it justice but a huge glass of milk and a fork.  Yeah.  A fork.  It was voted one of the top 100 dishes in the Twin Cities by City Pages newspaper.  Another fun fact?  They used to be called, politically incorrectly, "suicide bars," but clearly, they thought that one out a bit since.

This was printed in the Pioneer Press newspaper a couple days ago.  I actually copied this whole recipe from the newspaper, and then discovered it's on their website.  *Sigh.*

BREAD & CHOCOLATE'S FABULOUS FUDGE BARS

Ingredients:

– 1 cup (2 sticks) butter

– 2 cups brown sugar

– 2 eggs

– 4 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

– 2 cups flour

– 2 teaspoons baking soda

– 1 teaspoon salt

Filling:

– 3 tablespoons butter

– 1 can (about 14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

– 2 cups good-quality semisweet chocolate

– 1 cup pecans

– 1 teaspoon vanilla

To prepare oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To make dough: In large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar, scraping bowl as necessary. Beat in eggs. In another bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, baking soda and salt. Stir well to combine. Add oat mixture all at once to egg mixture. Mix until combined, scraping bowl.

To make fudge filling: In saucepan over low heat, combine butter and sweetened condensed milk. Cook over low heat, stirring carefully to avoid scorching, until butter melts. Add chocolate, pecans and vanilla. Remove from heat.

To assemble and bake: Press one-third of dough on bottom of 9-by-13-inch pan. Top with fudge filling. Crumble remaining oat mixture on top. Bake for 15 minutes. Reverse pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until top is slightly golden.

Eat.

Oh, why is this a day late?  

This little girl wanted to escape, finally.  She says hi.  Welcome to the world, little Z!  

Thanks to all you wonders who wished me luck and prayers and witty comments over the last couple days.  You're all nuts.  Mwah!  And thanks to all the crazy-awesome nurses and midwives at St. Joseph's Hospital.  Wow, you ladies are amazing.