Recipe: Streusel Strawberry Bars with Powdered Sugar Icing (using strawberry preserves)

STREUSEL STRAWBERRY BARS

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
10 ounces strawberry or raspberry preserves
FOR THE POWDERED SUGAR ICING (OPTIONAL:
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg.

Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in pecans. Set aside 1 cup of the pecan mixture.

Press the remaining pecan mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9x2-inch baking pan. Spread preserves to within 1/2-inch of the edges of the bottom crust. Dot the 1 cup reserved pecan mixture on top of preserves.

Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Drizzle the cooled bars with Powdered Sugar Icing or sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.

TO MAKE THE POWDERED SUGAR ICING:
In a small mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until icing is of drizzling consistency.

Makes 24 bars
Source: Hometown Cooking magazine, June 2000