KENTUCKY BOURBON BARS

2 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/4 cup butter, chilled and cut into quarter pieces
Filling (recipe follows)
3 cups chopped pecans, divided, or 2 cups pecans, divided, plus 1 cup chocolate chips

TO MAKE THE CRUST:
Mix together flour, brown sugar, butter and 1 cup of pecans and then process with steel blade attachment of your food processor until mixture is the consistency of coarse meal. Press into the bottom of 9x13x2-inch baking pan.

Bake on 325 degrees F for 10 minutes.

While crust bakes, prepare the Filling.

Sprinkle 2 cups pecans (or 1 cup pecans and 1 cup chocolate chips) over baked crust. Then pour Filling over.

Bake at 325 for 30 to 40 minutes until set. Consistency should be that of a pecan pie. Let cool in pan and slice into bars.

FILLING:
3/4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon canola oil
2 tablespoons bourbon

In a large bowl, combine the sugar, brown sugar and flour. Rub together with your fingers to mix and break up the brown sugar. Add the eggs, corn syrup, oil and bourbon and mix on the lowest speed of an electric mixer until well blended.

Makes 24 bars
From: Steve Strickland at Wellspring Grocery
Source: The Raleigh News and Observer, October 9, 1996