Day 4: 12 Days of #HopeforHeidiAllen

Today's Recipe: Seven Layer Cookies

Today's recipe is one my Gramma Searles and one of my favorites. As I went through the cookbook and saw this recipe, I knew it had to be a part of this series. I can't remember the last time I made this and enjoyed eating it.

Heidi is four years younger than me.

We shared a room for the majority of our childhood until I was in the middle school when my parents figured out how to remodel (put a thin 2 x 2 inch wall in the center of the room) and we each chose our paneling (yes, paneling used to be cool) and carpet.

Heidi's room was purple flowers, a purple carpet, and I had to walk through her half of the room to get to my half. This was okay though because I had the window in my room.

My room was also 2 inches wider, as she reminded me often. As we matured, she tended to hang in my room more often because it was cleaner. Heidi enjoyed being surrounded by clean.

Today's photos are of Heidi (yellow jacket) and I (blue & white coat) playing in the snow at my Gram and Aunt Nancy's house, next door. Our house is the in background of the photo when I'm pulling Heidi on the sled.

I was blessed to grow up with my Grandparents living next door.

​This allowed us the opportunity to spend countless hours surrounded my our family. Have you heard the phrase, "It takes a village"? We, Heidi and I, and our cousins, are products of our village.

While writing this blog I found myself staring into nowhere and lost in thought. I wasn't sure why or even what I was thinking about until a phone notification dinged, returning me to present time. Then I filled with sadness.

Within minutes I was smiling, crying, and praying. Prayers of thanksgiving for good memories, prayers for Heidi's return, prayers for my Dad having to wake each day experiencing a pain I can't imagine, to sadness for my mom, Gram, and others who spent their last moments asking, "Where's Heidi?" or "Tell Heidi I couldn't wait."

This series is a way to encourage, uplift, inspire, and share with you in true Lisa fashion, "Keeping it Real". I have no outline or script on what to write. The only thing planned is what recipe I'll make for the duration of this series. I spent a few days going through old photos and selected those I want to share without knowing what day they'd appear on.

I tell you this because when I started this blog and writing about the pictures of Heidi and I playing in the snow, I wasn't expecting the response I experienced. More importantly, I never planned to share how I was feeling after praying and writing about these memories. I contemplated deleting this portion and then decided, if I did that, I wasn't keeping it real, and I always want to Keep it Real.

This is reality. When we move forward, there will be times and moments of reflection and possibly even a tear or two. I won't apologize for this, instead, I want to encourage you, as you move through the holidays this year and in the future - embrace how are you feeling. Own your feelings. Process them and trust yourself to move forward stronger and better because of all you've endured, experienced, and survived. You are who you are today and it is something to celebrate.

Today, celebrate with seven layers of deliciousness!

Hope you can join me live on YouTube channel -
it will be fun. Stop at the grocery store this morning so you can bake alongside me.

Seven Layer Cookies
Page 57 Heidi Allen Cookbook

Ingredients:
1 stick butter or oleo (melted)
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup shredded coconut
6 oz. chocolate morsels
6 oz. butterscotch morsels
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 (15 oz.) can condensed milk 
(do NOT use evaporated milk)

​Directions:
​
1) Spray pan on all sides of 9 x 13 inch glass or tin cake dish
2) Put in butter, cracker crumbs, chocolate morsels, coconut, butterscotch morsels, walnuts, and milk.
3) Put ingredients in pan in that order in layers.

​Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 30 minutes or until lightly browned

Seven Layer Cookies
Epicurized!

Ingredients:
​
1 stick butter or oleo (melted)
1 cup Epicure Shortbread Cookie
1 cup shredded coconut
6 oz. chocolate morsels
6 oz. butterscotch morsels
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 (15 oz.) can condensed milk 
(do NOT use evaporated milk)

Directions:
1) Make Epicure Shortbread Cookie as per package and let it rest (set) for 20 - 30 minutes
2) After the Shortbread Cookie mix rests, spread on the bottom of your Multipurpose Steamer evenly. Poke with a fork a few times
3) Bake in oven, preheated at 350 degrees, for 10 minutes, uncovered

4) When you take out the shortbread, layer the following on top of the shortbread in this order:
*Coconut
*Chocolate Morsels
*Butterscotch Morsels
*Chopped Walnuts (if you add)
*1 Can of Condensed Milk

5) Return to the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned

Let cook before serving. 

Since you used our Silicone Multipurpose Steamer, you can "pop it out" by pushing up on the bottom. Place it on an Epicure Cutting Mat and cut into desired portion sizes. 

How does this recipe sound?
​Who is giving this one a try?