Good Old Coconut Bars

I was maybe 6 years old when I recall having my very first coconut bar. I probably tasted it long before but I was too young to remember. I didn't even know what to call it but it came in a big box during Christmas week just like every year before. There were a ton of other homemade goodies (peanut butter fudge, chex mex, nougat etc.) but the sweet coconutty treat stood out just as much then as it does now. It was my FAVORITE.

My great-grandmother MaMaw sent us the box of goodies she made from scratch every year at Christmas time. I didn't even know her real name until I was in my teens. She's from the South and we only called her MamMaw. Apparently, the nick name came about because her grandchildren, my mom included, couldn't pronounce "Grandma" when they were young.

I never really got to spend as much time with her as I would have liked. When I was young, I specifically remember that I looked forward to the $10 check she would mail on every birthday. The first check I ever cashed was from MamMaw. She passed away when I was a teenager. But now that I'm older, I know that we would have gotten along great. We share a love of baking and I'm positive that she is one from whom I inherited that love.

Sorry the picture is so small, this is the only one I have. It's me all the way to the right. You can barely see me sitting on the couch next to MamMaw. My mom (in the center holding Rich), my Nana (left) and my MamMaw (right).
I'm lucky to have been surrounded by some of the most amazing cooks. My aunties Tala and Lea make some of the BEST dishes I've ever had. My auntie Tala especially bakes the most dilectable Tongan desserts. It's this group of women (of course my madre included) that I draw inspiration from.

So this one belongs to my MamMaw. An old recipe that hasn't ever been changed because it's THAT good!

Monday night I decided to whip up a batch because we hadn't had them in a while. Mark's girlfriend Hannah was over for dinner and offered to help so I asked her to make them for me. With quick directions Hannah made it happen for our coconut bars. Maybe that's a sign that she is meant to be a part of our family. LOL While Hannah worked on the bars, Lani, Tasha and I worked on dinner. It was a group effort and we ALL enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy it too!

Coconut Bars
4 cups of grahm cracker crumbs (you can buy the crumbs OR crush regular grahm crackers)
1 stick of butter
1 bag of chocolate chips (for our house, I use two)
1 bag of shredded coconut
1 cup of chopped pecans
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
Preheat oven to 375. Put the stick of butter on the bottom of a sheet pan and bake in the oven. Remove the pan once the butter is completely melted.

Sprinkle grahm cracker crumbs over the top of the butter and pat down to create a crust.
Add chocolate chips, coconut and pecans (in that order) spreading over the whole pan evenly.
Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk trying to get it evenly over as much of the pan as you can.
Bake at 375 for about 12-15 minutes. Sometimes I have to leave it in for an additional 2 minutes to make sure the coconut browns just right. Take it out of the oven and let it cool at least 20 minutes before cutting and serving. The longer you wait, the better they hold up. Our batch didn't last very long! LOL
Doesn't it look SO easy?!?! It really is! Which is probably why this is one of the very first things I ever baked.