Rumour Has It

Yes, it's true...we do not have our Christmas tree yet! In my defense, we had every intention of getting it yesterday, but we went on a new tire adventure instead. My tire ran over a screw and needed to be replaced. Why not just get a patch? Easy enough, if your tire didn't already have a patch a few inches away! So our goal today is to get our Christmas tree and finally decorate the house. We do have candles in the window so we're not entirely Grinch.

We had my in-laws annual open house this weekend. I brought a variety of baked goods. I had a request to make sure that I put this one on the blog.

Dulce de Leche Bars

from Ladies Home Journal (lhj.com)

Oven 350

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

7 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

2 14 ounce cans sweetened condensed milk

Pinch salt

10 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Line a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing paper to extend on two sides.In a mixer bowl, beat together butter and confectioners' sugar on medium speed until light, about 2 minutes. Beat in extract, then flour and salt until combined well.

Press along bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake until just golden brown around edges, 12 to 18 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool completely

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, milk and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened and a deep caramel color, about 15 minutes. Pour over crust and spread evenly; refrigerate until completely cool, about 1 hour.

Melt semisweet chocolate; let cool slightly. Using a spatula, evenly spread over filling. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Using a knife, score chocolate layer into squares.