Cranberry Macadamia Pretzel Bars

I put this recipe off for a year because I wasn't sure that I was crazy about the combination but the idea of each ingredient sounded so good. Wow! I shouldn't have waited. These are amazing. They are buttery, slightly tart with the perfect mix of rich chocolate and salty and sweetness. You will love them. The only change I made was to pipe frosting on top instead of white chocolate because we are not white chocolate fans. Please let me know if you love them as much as my family did.

Recipe courtesy of www.themixingbowl.com

Servings: 36 bars

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 26 minutes

Total time: 56 minutes

Ingredients:

Crust Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups finely crushed pretzels
3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, melted
1 egg white, beaten


Filling Ingredients:
1 cup orange-flavored sweetened dried cranberries
1 cup coarsely chopped roasted macadamia nuts
2/3 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar


Topping Ingredients: (I piped vanilla frosting from the jar)
1/2 cup real semi-sweet chocolate chips or white baking chips
1 teaspoon shortening

Directions:

Heat oven to 325°F. Line 13x9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, extending foil over edges.

Combine pretzels and brown sugar in medium bowl; stir in 1/2 cup melted butter until well mixed. Stir in beaten egg white. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 8 minutes; sprinkle cranberries and nuts over hot, partially baked crust.

Combine 2/3 cup butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Pour evenly over cranberries and nuts in pan. Continue baking for 18 to 20 minutes or until caramel layer is bubbly and golden.

Place chocolate chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100% power), stirring occasionally, until chips are melted and smooth (45 to 60 seconds). Drizzle over bars. Cool completely. Lift bars out of pan using foil ends; cut into bars.

Store at room temperature in container with tight-fitting lid.

VARIATION: Cranberry Pretzel Cashew Bars:
Substitute coarsely chopped cashews for macadamia nuts.

Recipe Tip
To cool bars quickly; refrigerate bars 30 minutes.

Recipe Tip
To crush pretzels; use a food processor or place pretzels in heavy-duty resealable food bag. Use a rolling pin to crush pretzels.

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Lemon Rice with Pine Nuts

I made a great citrus marinade for my Mahi Mahi tonight and wanted to bring the flavors through the entire dish. I looked for a lemon rice recipe and couldn't find one that had ingredients that I already had on hand and/or that my family would eat so I took it upon myself to create one. I served this with charred roman lettuce (from the bbq) with citrus vinaigrette and tomatoes. The meal was a winner and I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy.

Lemon Rice

2 TBL extra-virgin olive oil

2-3 gloves of garlic minced

1/2 cup pine nuts

long strips of zest cut from one lemon (take your time and don't get the white part or you will have a bitter flavored rice)

2 cups of white rice (or my favorite is jasmine rice)

4 1/4 cups water

3 cubes chicken bullion cubes or 3 TBL of chicken flavored bullion powder (you can use 4 cups of chicken stock/chicken broth from the can instead of cubes and water

1/2 tsp dried thyme or 1 TBL fresh

salt and pepper to taste

In large saucepan with cover, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and pine nuts, cook for 1 min or until pine nuts start to slightly brown. Add Rice and cook for one min longer. Add water, bullion, thyme, and lemon zest strips. Bring to a boil, lower heat to low and simmer until all liquid is gone and rice is soft about 10-15 minutes. Fluff with fork and remove lemon zest strips before you serve.

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