That’s Liza…with a Z
There is a bar cookie called Hello Dolly…where did that name come from? One of my favorite food blogs is the Homesick Texan, and she makes a Hello Dolly bar that I used for inspiration here…anything the Homesick Texan makes is worthy of eating. However, I cannot abide by the graham cracker crumb crust…it’s just not substantial enough to withstand the rigors of hanging around our house, not to mention it’s not nearly good enough to be mingling with chocolate, pecans, and coconut.
Since I didn’t make my bars with graham cracker crumbs I shall take the liberty of renaming my delicious delight. My version shall be known as the Liza Minnelli bar. Why? Well, why not? Liza is an actress associated with musical theatre, and I so loved her as a comedic actress in the highly under-appreciated TV show Arrested Development, other than that I got nothing…it’s just a name.
This easy bar cookie is the perfect antidote to post-holiday, over-exposure of the kitchen…right now I’m a big advocate of get in and get out before anyone notices you’re cooking…otherwise they might start making requests and I don’t know about you but I’ve got novels to read, laundry to fold, BSG reruns to watch, and a dog to walk.
Liza Minnelli Bars
Crust
2 cups flour
2 sticks butter, cold, diced
1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks
Preheat the oven to 350°.
Put all the dry ingredients to the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse once or twice to combine. Add the butter and pulse about 12 times or until the two combine. Add the egg yolks and pulse just enough to mix in (3 or 4 times). Turn out into a 9″ x 13″ baking pan that is lined with parchment (sling fashion) and any unlined areas are heavily buttered. Press down to form a firm even layer. Prick all over with a fork and bake at 350° for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature.
Lovely, Gooey Layers
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
14oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
Spread all of the above evenly over the crust. Pour the condensed milk on last in an even fashion. Bake at 350° for 20 - 30 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool for 1 hour minimum and remove from pan using the parchment sling. Cut into bars and enjoy. They go well with coffee and also, surprisingly, a very heady red Zin.
The printable recipe is here.
9 Responses to “That’s Liza…with a Z”
1 Miss Scarlett 25 November 2007 @ 5:39 pm
You named your dessert after Lucille Austero!??! I love this blog already. This dessert deserves a “grand romantic gesture” to be sure.
Fox killed the Bluths, but they live on in my house!
2 Graeme 25 November 2007 @ 6:29 pm
My God, the base is almost oozing butter - But I don’t care. It looks fantastic.
3 JEP 25 November 2007 @ 7:24 pm
I agree, this crust does make a difference!
4 Dez 26 November 2007 @ 7:36 pm
My husband’s people make the Hello Dollys. Their version uses butterscotch chips instead of pecans and although I refuse to include them when I make them, cherries. Nasty.
5 Mike 27 November 2007 @ 8:39 pm
Looks absolutely delicious
6 Kayte 29 November 2007 @ 6:35 pm
A friend sent me a link to your blog and I absolutely love it! Not only was there an Arrested Development mention in the most recent post, but the recipes all sound delicious, the photography is gorgeous (I rarely cook a recipe without an accompanying picture) and the writing is witty and fun. Looks like I’ve found my new daily stop!
7 vanessa 29 November 2007 @ 7:51 pm
Miss Scarlet, yes…Lucille! God she was good on that show…they all were. With the writer’s strick I think I’ll TivBob AD and watch again.
JEP and Mike, a butterr base is always a good thing.
Dez, those sound more like Bob Mackie bars…beautiful but way over the top…think Cher’s costumes in the 70’s.
Kayte, you’re so kind…thanks and welcome. We serve coffee in the morning, double-shot machiattos in the afternoon, and wine after 3pm (EST).
8 Amanda 5 December 2007 @ 2:37 pm
I stumbled across your blog and saw this awesome dessert just as I was making my list of holiday treats to bring to the office. These were a smash hit and people can’t stop raving about them. Thanks!
9 MrsDocChuck 27 February 2008 @ 12:06 pm
I simply adore Liza!!!
I am also a caberet performer, so she is very close to my own heart (although I perform Bea Arthur and Ethel Mertz impersonations).
I also am a big fan of Arrested Development, though my husband could never understand the humor (I’ve since nicknamed him “Bob Loblaw”).
Being a Southern Lady, I also adore pecans (pronounced “pee cahn,” should you be interested in being correct).
This dessert looks so fabulous I almost ate my monitor!
Consider it made! THANKS!
Leave a Reply