I Love My Small Town – Chicora, Pennsylvania, USA

Except for a few years in my twenties, I have lived in this small town my whole life.  At times it has seemed a little too small but when choosing where to raise my family, I chose here.  There are lots of reasons, but today one of them arrived to me in the mail. Our community holds Wednesday evening Lenten Worship services.  This is a multi-denominational/multi-congregational service where we mix up congregations, buildings and pastors.  I love these unique services where the Lutheran Pastor preaches from the Baptist pulpit to a congregation full of diversity. What  a blessing to attend with other church go-ers who don’t necessarily go to your church.  After this service, coffee and cookies are usually served with some socializing.  It’s a nice midweek break on these winter evenings. Though we don’t always stay for the cookies, last week we did.  I found a particular cookie that I really enjoyed and mentioned it to one of the ladies serving that evening.  She said she didn’t know what the cookie was called or who baked it.  I told her that if she ever met the baker, to let her know how much I enjoyed it.  She smiled and said she would. Today amid the pile of junk and other mail that didn’t really interest me, I received a small envelope.  Enclosed was a handwritten note (remember those?) and a copy of a recipe that looked like it was originally off of a mimeograph machine.  “Linda, The cookies were made by Roberta.  She copied the recipe for you and brought to church on Sunday.  Enjoy! Donna”  I sincerely appreciate a small town where its’ inhabitants take the time to copy a recipe and mail it to me….just because.  Just to be neighborly. I guess it’s not necessarily the small town I love, it’s the people in it.  Now, off to buy the ingredients to make my own Dream Bars! Thank you Donna!!

Dream Bars

Part 1:

1 1/2 C Flour

1/2 C Butter

1/2 C Brown Sugar

Mix together & pat out in pan.  9×12 inches.  Bake in 375 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile mix together:

2 Eggs

1 tsp. Vanilla

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 C Chopped Nuts

1 C Brown Sugar

2 TBS Flour plus 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 1/2 C Coconut

Spread over previously baked crust and bake for another 20 minutes.  Cut into bars.