Harvard Squares

February 20th, 2018

Harvard Squares

As a former school librarian, there is nothing more fascinating that visiting a local library in the town where I happen to be at the moment.  I recently got a visitor’s card to the New Smyrna Beach Library and have since checked out over 12 books.  I am like a gourmand in a food emporium when visiting a library and this library delivered.  All of the latest cookbooks where available.  Both David Leibovitz’s books,  My Paris Kitchen and L’Appart were on the shelves.  I also found Ottolenghi; The Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi.

On a lighter note, I starting reading a culinary fiction series.  Katherine Hall Page is the author of the Faith Fairchild books about a caterer with the business “Have Faith in your Kitchen” who is also married to a minister.  She cooks up delicious food while solving mysteries and dealing with the challenges of being a minister’s wife.  In the book, The Body in the Attic, Faith and her husband make a temporary move to Boston where he is an interim Divinity Professor at Harvard.  I love the play on words of these Harvard Squares.  This is basically a bar cookie and allows you to make 48 cookies in one batch.  A great idea for a caterer or anyone not wanting to deal with batch after batch of cookies.

French Kande

I received a very special Valentine’s present this year.  I have been admiring the French Kande line of jewelry for a long time.  David gave me this necklace, although mine has a different Medallion.

French Kande Necklace

The designer, Kande, found French Medallions at a Paris Flea Market years ago and became inspired to create beautiful jewelry with them.

French Kande Medallion

My medallion is a  Silver Champagne medallion from the  Champagne region of France.  I love it.

Give the Harvard Squares a try.  I used a combination of chocolate chips and butterscotch chips.  The next time I would cut down or eliminate the butterscotch chips.  They overpowered the flavor profile.

HARVARD SQUARES

1 cup softened unsalted butter
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips (See above comment)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Cream the butter, then add the sugars and beat until fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing well.  Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, then add to the batter.  Combine the chocolate chips and other chips.  Stir them into the batter.

Spread the batter evenly into a well-greased jelly-roll pan (approximately 15 1/2 inches by 10 1/2 inches).

Bake in the oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.  Cool in the pan, then cut into squares.  Makes 48 squares.

Printable Recipe

 

8 responses to “Harvard Squares”

  1. Penny at Enjoying The Simple Things says:

    We have a tiny library in Saluda, that I have not been too yet. Someday soon I will pop it. Sounds the one where you are staying is a great one! The squares sound great!

    • Penny says:

      Our library is amazing. It all has to do with the outlook of the head librarian. Judicious selections that cover all political persuasions and genres. It is an important part of our free Democracy.

  2. Monique says:

    Such a pretty necklace..like something you find in a Museum Gift Shop:)
    Thanks for the book recs:)And the square recipe!

  3. Madonna says:

    Books from the library would be a good way to see if you want to own a certain book. My problem with cookbooks is I would not want to return them. 🙂

    Those bars would be ideal for a gathering of any kind.

    Your necklace is lovely.

  4. Love your beautiful necklace, I’m sure it reminds you of your last visits to France. When we had our cottage on the lake in Maine, we used to go to the local library all the time. It sounds like NSB has a nice one. Cookbooks are always fun to check out.

  5. Penny says:

    Thank you Karen. My necklace does remind me of France. I have been wearing it almost everyday, even with jeans and t-shirts.

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