I had mentioned before that Jamie and I are moving and my cookbook collection has been carefully packed away, so besides the internet, the recipes I have at my disposal are from two cookbooks. So here is another one from The Designing Women Plain & Simple Cookbook that Laura recently gave me.

As I was flipping through this book, I was surprised to see a recipe called “Connie Squares“. Well, of course I am going to share this with you, it is almost like destiny 🙂

This recipe is very, very easy. (I emphasize very). You throw all the ingredients in a baking dish; put it in the oven for half and hour and then you have Connie Squares! I have heard these referred to as Magic Bars in the past, but I think that Connie Squares has a nice ring to it!

Now, as I glanced at this recipe, I noticed that it called for butterscotch chips and walnuts. Well, maybe the original Connie preferred those flavours, but this Connie enjoys peanut butter and pecans, so I made the switch and proceeded to bake.

While the bars were in the oven (and let me tell you that it smelled absolutely heavenly in our kitchen) I perused through more recipes in this small cookbook. A recipe caused me to do a double take – Elephant Stew! WHAT! I showed the recipe to Jamie and was shocked to see a recipe that called for elephant. This can’t be right; there is no way that any woman’s group would support the cooking of elephant.

Well, as Jamie pointed out to me, if you read the recipe, you will find that it is a hoax. I guess I am a bit naïve?!? In the little bit of research that I did, this ‘recipe’ was originally published in July 1968. It might even be older than that, but that was the earliest reference I could find.

I guess the joke is on me, as I thought it was a real recipe and was shocked by it’s inclusion in a church cookbook. 🙂

After all this excitement about elephants and cookbooks, the timer on the stove went off. Phew, back to the reality that I know and love, which always includes chocolate and peanut butter.

These squares are amazing, and easy (did I say that already?). If you get that unexpected invite this holiday season and you don’t know what to bring, raid your pantry and I am sure you will have the necessary ingredients to make your own version of Connie Squares.

Consider this a bonus blog post, as I have also included the recipe for Elephant Stew!

Elephant Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 medium elephant
• 1 bushel carrots
• 1 basket onions
• salt and pepper
• 2 rabbits (optional)*

Directions:

1. Cut elephant into bite sized pieces.  Place in very large pot.  Add carrots, onions and enough brown gravy to cover.
2. Cook with kerosene fire for about 4 weeks.  Serves 3800 people.
   *If more arrive, 2 rabbits may be added.  Do this only in an emergency as some people do not like hare in their stew.
3. LOL 🙂

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Adapted from:
The Designing Women Plain & Simple Cookbook
Judy Wood

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup pecans
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. In 9×13 glass baking dish, combine graham crackers and melted butter.  Lightly press into pan.
3. Sprinkle graham cracker mixture with coconut, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips and pecans.
4. Drizzle with condensed milk.
5. Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes.
6. Enjoy!