Aunt Eva’s Mud Hen Bars
~ Mary ~
I don’t even remember where I got this recipe, but I do remember Mickey getting excited every time I made them. It’s simple enough and not too sweet. This post has been sitting in my draft box since, well since you don’t even want to know when so – here you go – copied straight from my favorites book. Enjoy!
ps. I did upgrade the margarine to butter and the chips to Ghiradelli’s 60% choc chips.
10/14/09 Update: WOW! Thanks for all the responses! I never realized my penmanship would have so much scrutiny. Maybe not so much the penmanship as the abbreviations – you can call them chicken scrtachings and I won’t be offended – get it Hen Bars – Chicken Scratching – hehehehahahahohohho I crack me up!
C = Cup
t = teaspoon
BP = Baking Powder
The recipe is from my Mary Hart Favorite Recipes published in 1979. She was the Food Editor for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for many years.
It is one of my FAVORITE cookbooks. I have yet to find one of her recipes that hasn’t become one of our favorites as well! Would that sll cook books were so reliable!
Some of you may remember she came out to our house to interview me about my Jamacain Fruit Cake. Our picture appeared in the paper with our cowboy hats and I was strumming my ukelali. We were singing “Polly Wolly Doodle All The Day” I was pregnant with Katy, so the picture was of Kevin, JP and Mary.
Food does bring back memories, doesn’t it?
Great story Patty! Where’s the paper clipping? I’ll add it if you can find it.
I’ll look for it just now.
mmmmmm!!!!
Mud Hen’s Bar. How did that name come by? And it looks rich, sweet and delicious.
Thanks for the posting. yummmmmm!
These look fantastic! I’ll be trying these. Thanks for the recipe.
Why are they called Mud Hen Bars? Is there a story behind the name?
My family would love these bars! Good call on substituting butter for margarine.
I love the name!! I’m sure my kids would drool over these 🙂
Oooh, those look beyond good. Perfect, sweet and addictive.
I’m sure I would be able to finish this if you give those bars to me. I think the gooey and chewy texture is what I love the most. Thanks for sharing that.
Saw you on foodgawker, congrats, they always have denied my pictures,your picture is beautiful….and delicious.
wow che delizia!!
Anything to do w/Toledo Mud Hens? I love the Mud Hens! My kids will go crazy for these, yummeee!
I must try one.
I love this recipe! it makes it extra special considering the fact that it is a family recipe
Mm, those look and sound yummy! My kids would love them!
Wow, I am definitely keeping this recipe -this looks amazing!
I want ONE bite !
looks yummy, wanna try.
wht does c stands for? cups??
plz reply!
Yes, C=Cups and the small t=teaspoon
uhmm…looks masarap!i should try baking this!
Awesome recipe. My girls would love them!
This look fantastic! One questions…..what’s 1+ BP? I’m not sure I know what a BP is! Thanks in advance! 🙂
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
such a simple and irresistible treat!
and using Ghiradelli’s???? doesnt it just make the bars even more indulgent?!
Мммм….вкусно и красиво!Поздрави!
Looks great!! I love how you scan your recipes! I think I might do that once in a while :o)
I’m going to make these tonight, what does cram short (is that the butter?) mean?
yes there is a minor smudge there, but it does say CREAM in all caps
and yes short = shortening which does mean the margerine – or butter (which is better) if that’s what you’re using.
Let me know what you think when your finished gobbling them up 😉
Some recipes simply cannot be matched, they are impeccable when passed on as a legacy! these bars look really delicious!
They would be perfect for the sweet celebration contest I’m hosting on my blog. It would be great if you’d care to participate!
do you grease the pan?
I never used to but this time around I did spray it – not sure why – it didn’t hurt anything.
awesome thanks!
I LOVE these! I am so making them as part of a Christmas goodies present!
I bookmarked this recipe last fall when I saw it, because I loved the name. I made them this weekend and took them to a potluck- everyone loved them. I also blogged about them and linked back to your site for the recipe. Thanks so much for sharing!
Betty
Someone else liked them too: http://scrambledhenfruit.blogspot.com/2010/05/aunt-evas-mud-hen-bars.html
We got this recipe in the mail as part of a “teaser pack” from a mail order cookbook like 15 years go. In the book they were called “Mississippi Mud Bars” which I have since learned is not correct. 🙂
They were my favorite dessert at the time and then I lost the recipe. Very happy to find it again!
Woo-Hoo!!
I just finished making a quadruple batch for tomorrow’s wedding shower. My whole house smells magnificent!