Golden Bars

I recently read somewhere that if you cut a small portion of the sugar out of a standard recipe, and gradually kept cutting a bit out, then over time you would be consuming less sugar, and you wouldn't notice the difference. I have been thinking about this for a while (and not really trying it as, ya know, I like sugar! Especially brown sugar!) but as I was getting ready to make these mouthwatering and delicious "Golden Bars", I decided to give the sugar cut a try!

I have listed the recipe as it was written and in (parentheses) I showed how much I used to make this less sugar, less fat version.  I cut about 25% of the sugar and fat out of the recipe.  Try it and let me know what you think!

Golden Bars

2/3 Cup shortening, butter, or oil (1/2)

2 C Brown Sugar (1 1/2)

2 Beaten Eggs

1/4 tsp Salt

1 tsp Vanilla

1 1/2 C Flour

2 tsp Baking Power

Melt the shortening or butter on low in a sauce pan.  Remove from heat, add remaining ingredients, pour into greased 8" x 8" glass pan.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.  Cool, cut into 2" ish squares, enjoy!

 After baking this recipe with reduced fat and sugar, I really did not notice any difference in taste, texture, or the overall outcome of the cookie bars.  I have been making this recipe since I was in high school, and my mom made them before that, so I figgure I am a pretty good judge of their appearance :-) .  I didn't even tell my family that I did it, and no one noticed!


I would love for you to give this recipe a try and let me know how it turns out for you.

More Fall Recipies.....Grampa Bill's Apple Cake

Apples imbeded in gooey brown sugar cinnimon, surrounded by moist, delicious cake.  This pretty much sums up this recipe that I copied from my step Dad (Grampa Bill).  He is German through and through, and this recipe was his grandmothers.  Needless to say it has been around in our family for generations.  You can substitute Italian (or any) plums in summer time, but we like it best with apples.

APPLE CAKE
ingredients:
1/2 C. Sugar                         1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 C. Butter                        1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 beaten Egg                         >1/3 C. Milk
1 C. Flour                            1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1 Apple sliced 1/4" wedges, peel on

Grease 8x8" baking dish.  Preheat oven to 350o

Mix dry ingredients together.  Cream butter and sugar together well.  Add egg and vanilla.  Add  alternating;  milk and dry ingredients.  Place sliced apples on top of cake.  If using plums, place skin side down on top of cake.  Cover cake evenly with fruit.  Top with crumb mixture (recipe below), and bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Crumb Topping:
mix together till crumbly: 3 Tbs softened butter, 3 Tbs Brown Sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 Tbs Oatmeal (optional)  Sprinkle over your cake

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Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.  Experiment with your own fruit choices and let me know your results!