Chocolate Chip Meringue Bars

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
• 1 cup ground salted peanuts

Recipe

• 1 in a mixing bowl, cream shortening, 1/2 c brown sugar and 1/2 c sugar.
• 2 add egg yolks and mix well.
• 3 combine the water and vanilla.
• 4 combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with with water/vanilla mixture.
• 5 mix well.
• 6 spread into a greased 15x10x1 inch baking pan.
• 7 sprinkle with chocolate chips.
• 8 in a small glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
• 9 add the remaining brown sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition.
• 10 beat until stiff peaks form.
• 11 spread over chocolate chips.
• 12 top with peanuts.
• 13 bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.