White Chocolate Cashew Bars

There's a rant brewing in me and I must let it out. It involves chocolate. Now I love chocolate. Really. I do. Just as much as the next person. But I cant stand it when all people will eat is chocolate, they think chocolate is all that exists and wont try anything other than chocolate. Case in point, when I bake for engagement parties and make elegant things such as these White Chocolate Cashew Bars or Gingery Crumb Wedges, they dont get eaten. What does? The brownies, the chocolate cake, the chocolate chip cookies! You know the disparaging phrase, "You're so vanilla?" Well, I must say, chocolate is the new vanilla! I mean, why do I even bother? The answer: because I refuse to be generic and do things that everyone else does. I refuse to not try new things. People. Listen. There is a whole world of flavor other than chocolate! Seriously, it wont kill you to try things that are seasonal and fruity and.... Now that that's out there.. Ill tell you about these White Chocolate Cashew Bars that I made for that engagement party that I loved but everyone else ignored. Sad, but oh so very true. These bars, made with white chocolate in the batter, are elegant and delicate with a perfect balance of sweet and salty from chocolate and cashews. I was really surprised at how good they are when I bit into them. Use the best chocolate you can find or afford and take care not to overbrown them. Oh and one last thing. Serve to people who appreciate them!

White Chocolate Cashew Bars
KAF Cookie Companion

2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup white chocolate chips or chunks
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup salted cashews, toasted

Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment or grease it. Preheat the oven to 350. In a bowl, place the margarine and 1/2 cup of the chocolate. Microwave until melted. Set aside.Place the eggs in a mixing bowl,and using an electric mixer, beat until foamy. Add the sugar, salt, vanilla, and leavener and continue to beat until pale and shiny.Like this.Gently fold the flour into the mixture in two additions,resulting in a batter that looks like this.Add the melted chocolate/margarine mixtureand blend until smooth. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chunks and cashews atop the batter.Bake for 30-35 minutes or until theyre puffed and shiny and browned around the edges. I sort of let mine go a bit too long.. Cut into squares and plate.