Caught in the Act (and Mud Hen Bars)

This week, I have had no computer at work.  While this might be an inconvenience for some of you, to me it's tragic!!  I am all alone in my office, in a little corner of a big convention center  (It used to be a casino).  The rest of the Convention Center staff offices are in the "west hall".  I am in the "east hall".  It's very complicated, but  I AM ALL ALONE.  Without my window to the world.  I sit there and ---file a bit, stare of into space a bit, file a bit....then...I kind of got my Kindle out of my purse and turned it on.  And I began to read.  I declared a break for myself!  It lasted longer than  usual, because I don't usually take breaks.  I'm all alone!   I ended up taking all the breaks I've not gotten for the past 20 days!!    It was a very nice afternoon at work. 

I started reading The Paris Wife by Paula Mclain.  It's about Ernest Hemingway's first wife Hadley Richards.   (well, their lives thru her point of view--fictionalized)  It's really good. I was just zipping along at a very fast pace, when all of the sudden, I was caught in the act!!
One of my board members came in to talk....but I'm not so sure he noticed.  I mean, it wasn't a book I was holding.  ???   He never batted an eye.  He didn't have a clue.
Thank goodness for that near miss.

The Handyman was making his famous roast beef with melted Swiss cheese and grilled onions for supper, so I  grabbed my Kindle and one of these dessert bars I had made the other day  (yes, it's important for emotional health to eat dessert before supper sometimes) and continued my book.
What dessert bars am I talking about you ask?  Well, let me tell you...  I saw these bars on a blog last week and they looked very intriguing.  They had  marshmallow meringue topping on a chocolate chip cookie base.   I had never heard of 'Mud Hen Bars' before--and I've heard of most cookies/bars--have you?   You really should try them, we all enjoyed them.  And they took literally only 10 minutes to whip up.  A fast, easy, yummy dessert bar.
And a good book!  Don't forget the good book. 

Mud Hen Bars



1/2 c. butter, room temp
1 c. granulated sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 c. nuts chopped
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. marshmallows
1 c. brown sugar


Beat together sugar and butter until creamy. Beat in 1 whole egg and 2 egg yolks (put aside the whites for later). IN a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking powder. Add to the butter mixture and mix well. Spread into 9x13" pan. Sprinkle with marshmallows, nuts and chocolate chips.


Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold in the brown sugar. Spread over the mixture in pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until bars are a deep golden brown and the crust is cooked through. Cool in pan and cut.

I found these bars at Sunday Baker.  There are some other great recipes on her blog.  Stop by and check it out.

I can't wait until morning, because besides having dessert before supper sometimes,  early morning, hot coffee, a mud hen bar and the Paris Wife? 
You probably wont' get me to work in the morning!!