Holiday Fruit Bars

Holiday Fruit Bars
 
 1 1/3 cups of unbleached flour, sifted
 3/4 teaspoon of baking powder
 1/4 teaspoon of salt
 1/2 cup of brown sugar, firmly packed
 1/2 cup of butter or regular margarine
 2 tablespoons of water
 3 Eggs, large
 1/4 cup of brown sugar, firmly packed
 1/4 cup of butter or margarine, melted
 1/2 cup of raisins
 1/2 cup of golden Raisins
 2 tablespoons of Red Candied Cherries, chopped
 2 teaspoons of lemon rind, grated
 1/8 teaspoon of allspice, ground
 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon, ground

Instructions:

Stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl. Mix in the 1/2 c brown sugar and then cut in the 1/2 c butter with a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in the water and press the mixture into the bottom of a 13 X 9 X 2-inch baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350ºF. oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile beat the eggs in a bowl until well blended, using an electric mixer at medium speed. Beat in the 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of melted butter and blend well. Stir in the raisins, both kinds, the candied cherries, lemon rind, and spices. Spread the mixture over the baked crust. Bake in the 350ºF.  oven for 15 more minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack and when cool cut into 24 (2 X 1 1/2-inch) bars. Makes 24 bars.

From Geminis MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini