Noels

These are one of my favorite holiday cookies.  They are simple, made with stuff I always have on hand and a nice change of pace from the typical Christmas cookie.  The butter and sugar combine to make an ooey gooey caramely bar.  These are fabulous with a cup of tea.

2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. chopped walnuts
5 T. flour
1/8 tsp. baking soda
2 T. butter
powdered sugar to sift on top

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Melt the butter in a 9x9 baking pan.  Beat eggs and vanilla extract together in a medium sized bowl.  In another bowl mix together the dry ingredients except for the powdered sugar.  Then add to egg mixture.  Mix well.  Pour into pan over the butter.  The butter will pool up around the edges a bit.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Cool completely on a wire rack, then turn upside down onto waxed paper.  Be sure to run a knife around the edge.  I also very carefully run a spatula under the cookies to separate them from the bottom of the pan becaus the middle tends to stick a bit.  Just be careful not to break the cookies apart.  Once you've flipped them upside down, cut into 16 pieces and dust with powdered sugar.  Joyeux Noel!