N Is For Nanaimo Bars

N is for Nanaimo Bars, a wonderful, triple layered, custard and chocolate cookie.    So yummy!     It is said that a housewife from the town of Nanaimo, British Columbia, submitted this bar cookie for publication in a cookbook.  It turned out to be a hit and put both the treat and the town on the map!

You may have seen these mentioned on TV during the 2010 Winter Olympics.   They are truly a favorite Canadian confection!

This recipe comes from my best friend, who is Canadian.  She makes them every year.  My son loves them!

(picture from the www)

NANAIMO BARS:

First Layer:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
5 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups graham crackers crumbs
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup walnuts
Mix butter, sugar, egg and cocoa,  Place over boiling water (double boiler) and stir until mixture looks like custard.    Remove from heat;  and add crumbs, coconut and nuts.   Press into buttered 9x9 pan.

Second Layer:
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons vanilla custard powder
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
Cream butter, custard powder, milk and sugar until smooth.  Spread on graham cracker base.   Chill for about 15 minutes.

Third Layer:
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate
1 tablespoon butter
Melt chocolate and butter over hot water (double boiler).  Spread over custard layer.

Chill.  Cut into squares.  (Keep refrigerated.)


My Notes:

I use Bird's Custard Powder.  You may substitute vanilla pudding if you can not find custard powder.

You may substitute any of your favorite nuts for the walnuts.

Use a hot knife to cut into squares, to keep the chocolate from cracking.

I have seen several variations on this recipe.  My sister adds 1 teaspoon of mint extract and 2 drops of green food coloring to the middle layer, to make it green at Christmas.


It's Alphabe-Thursday!  Join us over at Jenny's to see all the other N posts!

Other N news.... our naughty Natasha kitty decided to climb a tree in the back yard.  She did not know how to come down.  Mr. Garden had to get out the ladder and go up after her.  She kept climbing higher.  He climbed off the ladder and further up into the tree, while I  had visions of broken legs and backs.   Finally got them both down to safety.  I would have taken a picture, but I was too busy holding the ladder.

And for even more N, see yesterday's post about my niece.