There are many things I can do. I can count by twos and tie my shoes. I can zip zippers and button buttons.
But I cannot.
Am unable.
Find it impossible.
To wrap presents. In even half of a presentable way.
It’s true. My presents are not presentable.
Every Christmas I come at the job with a great deal of optimism. This year, I scoured Pinterest, and pinned with reckless abandon. Great ideas abounded, that I thought even I could do. Then, I proceeded to go to the dollar store and buy the dollar rolls, because who buys the perfect sized gifts in perfectly square boxes? I still give myself bonus marks for initial thoughtfulness.
Turns out, this year I have not improved at all. With little b as my very enthusiastic helper/wrapping paper scruncher, I managed to check yet one more thing off my to-do list. With style. Well, let’s just say it looks like b wrapped the presents on her own.
At least she is very cute. And seems to be in pajamas every time I take the camera out. Apparently not liking to wear pants runs in the family.
Aside from my wrapping disasters (it’s true, this white girl can’t wrap), I have been busy in the kitchen trying all sorts of new recipes. Let’s just say that some have been more successful than others, and I refuse to share with you any recipe that looks great, but tastes only mediocre, so you know I’m serious when I say these are gooooood.
This recipe is a result of my inability to eat regular chocolate. I dream about ways to make delicious treats without it. And here they are!
I don’t know what technically makes a nanaimo bar, but these stemmed from that recipe, so here they are. Delicious, fruity, and a fresh take on a classic treat. For the middle, it took me a couple tries to make sure the icing was stiff enough, so if you think you need to add more stiffness, don’t be shy with adding more icing sugar.
Enjoy, and let me know what you think!!
- Bottom Layer:
- ¾ cup butter or margarine
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup coconut
- Second Layer:
- ¼ cup butter or margarine, softened
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2½ tbsp custard powder
- ½ cup frozen raspberries, thawed (I used frozen because it's what I had, but you could always try fresh, if you have them)
- 3 cups icing sugar
- Top Layer:
- 4 white chocolate baking squares
- 3-4 tbsp butter or margarine
- Bottom Layer: Combine first 5 ingredients in large saucepan. Heat and stir over medium-low heat until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in graham crumbs and coconut. Pack firmly into ungreased 9x9 or 8x11 pan. Chill.
- Second Layer: Beat together all ingredients until smooth.
- Top Layer: Melt white chocolate and butter in a small bowl, or in a double boiler pan. Spread over the raspberry layer, and score before completely hardened!
Wished I lived closer, I’d wrap them all for you. Love wrapping gifts. If I had a big house I’d have a wrapping room like Candy Spelling does. These bars make up for any lack of gift wrapping ability. I mean I am Canadian and we love our Nanaimo Bars.
She’s so cute and so are the bars. And, this white girl can’t wrap or rap either. My husband gets wrapping duty. I’m an artist you would think I could do beautiful presents, but I have no gift for the gift.
I should try that… wonder if I could get my hubby to do the same! :) He’s much more of a perfectionist than I am :)
We tried this recipe. It didn’t quite work out as I had hoped :) We also did half white and half dark chocolate because I am not a fan of white chocolate. I personally liked it with the dark chocolate better than the white. Thanks for the recipe it was very yummy!! I will have to try it again and not make a mess this time :)
Yum! These look so good… I want to make them right now… except am missing many ingredients :( LOVE raspberry and white chocolate :)
Your daughter is adorable! The white chocolate is such a great addition to these, yum!