Here are a couple of recipes that are long time favorites in my family for baking at Christmas. (There is, of course, no reason at all why they would be restricted to Christmas, and they are great at any time of year.)

Kookie Brittle

INGREDIENTS:

– 1 cup margarine
– 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 cup sugar
– 2 cup flour, sifted
– 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chip (6 oz package)
– 1 cup nuts, finely chopped

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 375 F.

Combine margarine, vanilla and salt in bowl and blend well. Gradually beat in sugar. Add flour, chocolate chips and 3/4 cup nuts; mix well. Press evenly into ungreased 15 x 10 x 1 pan. Sprinkle remaining nuts over top and press in lightly.

Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool, then break into irregular pieces.

Makes 1 3/4 pounds.

Chocolate Revel Bars

INGREDIENTS:

– 3 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
– 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 cup butter or margarine
– 2 cup brown sugar, packed
– 2 eggs
– 4 teaspoon vanilla
– 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
– 1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
– 2 tablespoon butter or margarine
– 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 350

Combine oats, flour, soda, and 1 tsp salt.

Beat the 1 cup
of butter, add brown sugar, eggs and 2 tsp vanilla and beat well. Combine with dry
ingredients.

Heat together sweetened condensed milk, chocolate, 1/2 tsp salt and
2 tbsp butter over low heat. Remove from heat, add nuts and 2 tsp vanilla.

Pat 2/3 of oats mixture into 15 x 10 x 1 pan. Pour chocolate over; dot with remaining
oats.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.