The Aussie was flipping through her recipe binder, where all her recipes are held between clear plastic sheet protectors, having no smears or smudges on them, all typed up (no clippings from magazines/newspapers) - looking exactly like an actual cookbook rather than a hodge-podge of collected recipes like someone I know has! She pulled out Abby's recipe for 7 Layer Bars, handed it to me and said they were great and that I should make them. Translation: I'm not going to ever make these bars again because they are too rich, too delicious, extremely fattening and I want to be able to fit into my clothes...I'm not as stupid as you!
Oh how right the Aussie is...they are all of the above! But let's do the math, shall we? Too rich + too delicious = More than worth the calories!
Seven layers of happiness...let's count them:
1. A crust made of nothing but butter and crushed graham crackers.
2. Shredded coconut.
3. Chocolate chips.
4. Butterscotch chips (which I just discovered I have a weakness for!)
5. Chopped pecans.
6. Chopped almonds.
7. Sweetened condensed milk...the reason for life itself!
Do you remember the movie Empire Of The Sun? One of Spielberg's finest films, in my humble opinion. It's the true story about a 13-year old English boy, living in Shanghai with his parents, when the Japanese invade. His life is drastically changed; he is separated from his parents, sent to live in a camp until the "Cadillacs of the Skies," the U.S. P-51 bombers arrived (que the music: God Bless America) to end the Japanese occupation. The young lad is set free, tired and starving. Those P-51's dropped more than bombs - they also dropped food. The boy finds a food drop and inside are chocolate bars and sweetened condensed milk, which he opens and guzzles down with sheer joy. It's one of my favorite scenes in the movie...now...guess who played that 13 year old boy? None other than Christian Bale! Okay, that was a long way to go to point out the obvious, sweetened condensed milk can be a life-saver and, as is the case with these delectable bars, a life-maker! Because you haven't LIVED until you've eaten one (or 12) of these!
Abby's 7 Layer Bars - Adapted slightly from Abby Effy, One of Australia's Brightest Stars
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom of a rimmed (9 x 13-inch) baking dish with cooking spray Melt butter in microwave; pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over butter and press gently, forming a crust. It doesn't have to be even. Spread coconut over graham crust. Spread chocolate and butterscotch chips over coconut layer. Sprinkle with chopped pecans and almonds. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the pan, covering as evenly as possible. (Abby said in her recipe to open can with a "church key," which is what Aussies call a can opener...that tickled me!)
Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes or until fragrant and the nuts are toasted and center is set. Cool for an hour before cutting into bars. If you cut sooner, the chocolate chips will be too gooey to hold the shape, but if you can't wait, go for it! Makes about 40 bars, depending on how big you cut them.
