Razzmatazz

The recipe for these razzmatazz bars was sent to me by my friend, Talia. It originates from Nestle, clearly a recipe created to sell more Nestle white morsels....I am a victim of corporate marketing. After my friends at work sent me off to get married in May with bags full of gifts from Williams Sonoma, I felt like I needed to give them a return on their investment. I brought these bars to work on Wednesday for a National Accounts meeting and they razzled and dazzled my friends at work. Their comments may have been relative next to the cafeteria food.

Razzmatazz Bars (makes 16 bars)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine

2 cups (12 oz package) of Nestle Tollhouse Premier white morsels, divided

2 large eggs

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 325. Grease and sugar a 9 inch square baking pan. Melt butter in medium, microwave safe bowl on high (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. Add 1 cup of morsels, let stand and do not stir.

Beat eggs in your stand mixer until foamy. Add sugar; beat until light lemon colored, about 5 minutes. Stir in morsel-butter mixture. Add flour, salt and almond extract; mix at low speed until combined. Spread 2/3 batter into the pan.

Bake for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Remove from oven to wire rack.

Heat jam in small, microwave-safe bowl on high (100%) power for 30 seconds; stir. Spread jam over warm crust. Stir remaining morsels into remaining batter. Drop spoonfuls of batter over jam. Sprinkle with almonds.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until edges are browned. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars, take to office and make new friends at work !

These bars are very rich, full of white chocolate and the taste of raspberry jam with a slight almond infusion.