Second baking project of the day

After M Squared went to bed I made some toffee squares for Gayle to eat tomorrow as a birthday treat. Very easy and yummy recipe.* I did suffer from a momentary lapse of self-restraint, but fortunately the birthday guy is not a stickler for symmetry...


*Toffee Bars, From The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins
1/2 lb (2 sticks of sweet butter)
1 cup light brown sugar
1 egg yolk
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspooon vanilla extract
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup shelled walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped (I omitted these because I don't keep nuts in the house, and they turned out fine, although a sprinkle might be a nice touch for others)

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9 x 12 inch baking pan .
2. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolk; beat well.
3. Sift in flour, mixing well, then stir in vanilla. Spread batter in the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes.
4. Cover cake layer with chocolate chips and return to oven for 3 or 4 minutes.
5.Remove pan from oven and spread melted chocolate evenly. Sprinkle with nuts. Cool completely in pan before cutting, Makes about 30 bars.