When Things Go Badly Bake Something Delicious

Just a random shot of bleached and glittered trees, cuz I have time for stuff like that right now.

{insert sarcasm}

Someday I'm going to laugh about it.  But right now, I am not laughing.

My best intentions to make Christmas special for my family have gone strangely awry.

Last night I was dreaming, I was in the basement of an antique store with a steer.  The whole "bull in a china shop" was playing in living color all night long in my mind.

I am not sleeping well.

At all.  

After Christmas I shall share a very ugly story on the blog.  I keep trying to FIX this nightmare so it must remain a Christmas secret for now.  I am not certain if this makes me very, very stupid or just really, really determined to finish what I have started.

{insert deep breath}

It's fine, don't worry about me, it's all good.  I'm just a little stressed, tired, and disappointed.  

First world problems and all that...

Let's bake instead of dwelling on my angst.  I mentioned this recipe last month and several readers requested it.  It is fairly easy.  I don't think you'll have nightmares about bulls in china shops from baking for your family and everything going horribly wrong.  This recipe is easy and delicious.  Really.

Pumpkin White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bars 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Premier White Morsels, divided
• 2/3 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan.
COMBINE flour, cinnamon, cloves and baking soda in a small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until blended; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in 1 1/2 cup morsels and nuts. Spread into prepared jelly-roll pan.

BAKE for 18 to 22 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.

PLACE remaining morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag. ***Alert!  They aren't kidding about using a good quality bag, do not use a flimsy little sandwich bag! Microwave on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 45 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle over bars.

 The last photo is from the Nestle site because I didn't take a picture of the finished bars I just started eating them and forgot all about getting the shot.

I am not being paid by Libby or Nestle now or ever.  Amen.

Enjoy!