As American As ...

Admit it. You thought I was going to say, "As American as apple pie."

Randy probably would have been happier if I'd made an apple pie. He would have been ecstatic if I'd made a blueberry pie. (OK, honey. I promise I'll do that soon, especially since the price of fresh blueberries has hit a summertime low.)

But, in this case, I'm thinking "As American as a potluck." Or maybe "As American as chocolate." OK, chocolate probably isn't all that American, but what red-blooded American male or female doesn't like chocolate?

I'm combining "potluck" and "chocolate" today. My brother and sister-in-law invited us to a potluck and fireworks display at Elm Mills south of Pratt this evening. I think Kent and Suzanne felt sorry for me when I said that our little fireworks display at the Stafford Lake was inexplicably canceled this year.

My contribution to the potluck will be a couple of different kinds of cookies. They stretch further on a potluck line than a pie.

I made Brownies for a Crowd (click on the name, if you want the recipe). Brent is coming home later today and will be going to a friend's house in Lyons for July 4th. It makes a sheet cake pan full of brownies, so there will be plenty to share both tonight and with Brent's friends.

I frosted them and decorated them with red, white and blue star sprinkles in honor of the occasion.

(Caveat: I didn't wait until the brownies were completely cool to frost and cut. Someone - who shall remain nameless - was ready for a sample. But you get the idea!)

I also made Clipper Bars. It's a recipe from my sister-in-law Kathy's sister-in-law, Karen. (Are you confused with all the family connections?) I love the simplicity of bar cookies, and these combine chocolate and peanut butter. Yum!

And, if you use your imagination, you can think the mini M and Ms represent the exploding colors of Independence Day fireworks.

Enjoy! Have a safe and wonderful 4th of July!

Clipper Bars

2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup mini M and Ms (or you can use chocolate chips)

Combine and beat until crumbly the oats, flour, brown sugar, butter, soda and salt. Reserve 1 1/2 cups; press remaining crumbs into 9- by 13-inch pan. Stir together condensed milk and peanut butter. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with M and Ms. Pat remaining crumbs on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.