Amazing Results In The Test Kitchen: Crunchy Pumpkin Bars

Here is another recipe where you will have to keep up with me.

I took a bad reviewed recipe from allrecipes.com, reviewed it, and left the recipe to create my own.

And the result, AMAZING!!

I love the challenge of recreating bad foods into something spectacular.


I know what I have in my mind, but I have to get it on paper, or created to fit my desire.

Making sense of my notes is a challenge in itself.

I wanted a crumb crust (other than Graham crackers) on the bottom, pumpkin filling in the middle, and a crunchy finish.

So, let's get started.

Joyce, did you notice the Meijer sugar cookies in the photo above?

I think I would be the best candidate for Meijer advertising (using Meijer products).

What do you think?

Place the whole package of sugar cookies in a bag.

This is where the imagination comes into play.

That frustrating boss or family member....Oh yeah, just imagine the cookies are their head....

Start pounding and rolling with a rolling pin, and you can chant to yourself if you want,

"This is for all the frustration you have caused me....."


Roll the cookies out until you end with fine crumbs.

Phone rings....

20 year old son on the other end who lives on his own:

Mom: Hello?

Son: Mom?

Mom: Yeah (and who else would be answering my phone?)

Son: I woke up with a really bad toothache this morning. Can you call and make me a dentist appointment?

Mom: (What are moms for?) Sure, I can do that.

Dentist appointment made, hang up phone, call son back to relay appointment time.

Ok, now I can get back to my creation.


Mix 1 whole stick melted butter with cookie crumbs and press into an un-greased 13x9 baking pan.

Oh yeah, this is going to be good....

Mix pumpkin filling together:

1/3 c. all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ginger

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Set aside

Using mixer:

2 eggs

1 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 c. canned solid pack pumpkin

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix this all together and then stir in the flour mixture.

After it is all mixed together, spread it on top of the cookie crumb crust.

Oh yeah, now time for the topping.

I am thinking crunchy....

Phone rings.....

Me: Hello?

Dentist office: We had a cancellation and your son can come in at 2 o'clock.

Me: Ok, I will get a hold of him and call you right back.

Son: Hello?

Me: There has been a cancellation and you can get into the dentist at 2 o'clock.

Son: OK, let me contact my boss.

Hang up phone. Call dentist office back.

Me: My son will take that cancellation spot.

Dentist office: Ok, thank you.

Hang up phone.

Distractions: can cause a recipe to go bad quickly (forgetting ingredients, adding too much of an ingredient), but I remained focused.

Topping:

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. butter, melted

1/2 c. old fashioned oats

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Stir with a fork until crumbly. Drop (sprinkle) on top of pumpkin mixture.

Bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 35-40 minutes. Test with wooden pick. If it comes out clean, it is done. The topping will be slightly browned too.

Look at the results. AMAZING!!

These are so good. An excellent holiday treat....

I hope I have made things easy for you to follow.

Good Luck~Happy Eating~Enjoy