Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars (week 1, dessert)

This dessert was something new I tried during week 1 (of a new-dish-a-week), in addition to the Potato Au Gratin recipe.  I found it online and tried it when the kids had some friends over. I also had the in-laws try it. The result was very rich, and I have some changes to the original recipe.  Not sure I'd make it again.  There are other similar desserts that I enjoy much more.  The texture wasn't the best (for what I tend to like). However if you like a done (crunchy) cookie layer with a caramely topping, this is right up your alley.

Ingredients:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 bag of toffee bits
2  1/3 cups flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 cup pecans (optional)
shredded coconut (optional)

Mix flour and brown sugar in a bowl.  Grate cold or slightly frozen butter into flour mixture and work in with your hands until crumbly.  Add 3/4 bag of chocolate chips (reserve 1/2 cup for later step), and 1/2 cup pecans.  Remove 1 1/2 cups of dough, set aside.  Press remaining dough into prepared 9x13 dish. Bake at 350 about 10 min.

Remove from oven; pour sweetened condensed milk over top, to coat evenly (may need to spread with spatula).  Sprinkle toffee chips and rest of pecans.  Sprinkle rest of dough crumbles on top.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup chocolate chips on top (and coconut, if using).

Bake another 25 min.  Allow to cool 15 min before cutting.  Can refrigerate and serve cold.

Review:  I felt it needed nuts added (weren't in the recipe I found), and, if you like a little coconut, this would be the perfect dessert for it.  I found the crust (first layer of dough) to be a bit dry.  I tend to like my choc. chop desserts on the gooey side.  The condensed milk turns into a caramel, almost and is tasty, but also adds a deep richness to it - you'll want to serve this in small pieces.

'Tis the (strawberry) season

With strawberries in season, they're big, fresh and priced right to use by the pound!  My kids love fresh strawberries, so it's easy to get them to eat anything if it has strawberries in it.

Strawberry-Apple Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips
Strawberry-Spinach Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Fruit Salsa

One of our favorite non-dessert dishes are the apple-strawberry salsa with cinnamon chips (I use "Stacy's" brand Cinnamon chips and Gingerbread chips).  You could make your own by baking tortillas until crispy.  Or use dried apple chips, graham crackers, etc. This is a terrific snack or appetizer to bring to a party.  It's also a teacher-favorite (class parties, appreciation lunches).

Ingredients:

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, chopped

1 pint of strawberries or between 1-2 cups, sliced or chopped coarsely

2 kiwi chopped

2 Tbsp apple and/or peach jelly

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 orange, about a tsp of zest, and juice from 1/2 (if it's a large orange)

Mix in a bowl and serve immediately or chilled with the chips.

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Strawberry-Spinach Salad

A second non-dessert dish is a spinach-strawberry salad.  The ingredients may sounds like an odd combination, but once you take a bite, you'll realize how perfect the marriage is.

1 bag baby spinach leaves, de-stemmed

1 pint strawberries, remove core and slice with egg slicer

3-4 fresh mushrooms, sliced - I use baby bellas

1/3 red onion, sliced thinly

1/2 - 1 cup walnuts 

Dressing:

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar (white wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar is a good substitute)

1 Tbsp oil - olive or a lighter vegetable oil is fine

2 Tbsp raspberry jam

1 Tbsp honey

Toss salad ingredients with dressing and serve.

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