When I left home after college, my mother gave me two books which I think she believed would fully equip me for life on my own: The Holy Bible and Irma Rombauer’s original edition of The Joy of Cooking. In those days I wasn’t much of a cook — and even less of a baker. So I was lucky to stumble upon a particular recipe at the very start of my baking career. It was in The Joy of Cooking for a bar cookie called Angel Slices.
Cooking has its instances of alchemy, I believe, when certain ingredients, combined or cooked together in a particular way, result in something close to magic. To my mind, Angel Slices fall into that category. Rich, crunchy, sweet, and tangy — the whole is more than the sum of its parts. The cookie is simple enough to make, though it takes a little time and patience. It’s composed of a base of sweet pastry, which is baked on its own for 15 minutes, then slathered with a 
thick, gooey concoction of chopped pecans, coconuts, and brown sugar and put back in the oven for another 25 minutes. Once cooled, the two layers are iced with a third: confectioners sugar thinned to spreading consistency with lemon juice. Stacked between waxed paper in a tin, they could last for weeks. But they never do.
Happy Holidays and thanks for the yummy recipe.
Wishing you a wonderful new year, Cheryl!
Always the biggest hit at the Gyllenhaal Christmas Party. Looking forward to Friday.
Thanks, Max. I’ve got a tin of them coming your way.
Thank you for some beautiful and insightful thoughts and sentiments about nature and the world. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday and a Happy and Healthy New Year
Wishing you the same, Christine. Thanks for your kind words.
Nice and familiar scene !! Warms the cockles of ___ More! More!!
Thanks, Bill! Hope all goes well in Santa Fe.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm……
can’t wait to try!
Sounds wonderful! Happy Holidays!
Same to you, Lorraine!
Making these now to the hymns of the surf on an outer island in the Abacos! Thank you, Liza, Merry Christmas, and sending love!
Mine are actually in the oven as I write this. Merry Christmas, Nicie, and sending love in return!
better late than never, as they say:
I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS A VERY HEALTHY & PEACEFUL NEW YEAR…AND A LITTLE SNOW WOULD BE NICE TOO!
WARM WISHES AND A HUG OR TWO (NEVER TOO MANY OF THOSE!)
Annette
I just send this to Sam Law and said “Now we can have them all year long!” Counting down the days until next Christmas when I can have them made by the Master. 🙂
Thanks, Molly — aren’t you sweet!