Mud Hens Cookie Bars

I truly don't know where this recipe came from. I found it among some

old recipes that I had tried and saved. But I will tell you that it is really

good. (A Mud Hen is a real bird that's found in marshlands.)

They can be cut into bars or squares. The recipe will make about 24

(2-inch) squares or 16 (1½ x 4-inch bars).

• 1 cup sugar

• ½ cup butter (1 stick)

• 2 eggs (you will need 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk; set aside the

remaining egg white)

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp sea salt

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 cup chopped nuts*

• 1 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan

1. In a medium bowl, mix the butter and sugar until it's light and fluffy.

Add the whole egg and egg yolk; mix well.

2. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt; slowly add to the creamed

mixture while stirring; mix in the vanilla. Spread into the prepared

pan; sprinkle with the nuts.

3. Beat the egg white just until frothy and no liquid remains. Slowly

add the brown sugar then beat until stiff peaks form. Carefully

spread over the nuts. Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes until done;

do not overbake. Cut into squares.

*The flavor of these bars depends mostly on the nuts that you choose.

Pecans will give you a different flavor from black walnuts, for

example.