Congo Bars

Last night I went to a fun gathering to celebrate the opening of a time capsule. If you lived in my neck of the woods during the early 1980's you would have enjoyed the night as much as I did. The parting gift was a congo bar and the recipe. I have no idea if the congo bar was a northern Utah regional delicacy or if others got to enjoy this treat as part of school lunch, but these are a classic 80's recipe - minimal ingredients (including oil) and easy. If you are craving chocolate chip cookie flavor, but don't have time to actually scoop the cookies and wait for a batch or two to bake, here is the recipe for you, unearthed in the time capsule.
Cream together: 3/4 c. oil, 2 1/4 c. brown sugar. Add: 3 eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla. Mix well. Sift together and add: 2 3/4 c. flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder. Mix well and add 1 c. chocolate chips and 1 c. nuts (optional). Spread onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 20 min. at 350.
As kids, we always ate these topped with chocolate frosting, so that's how we made them today.
Frosting: Melt ½ c. butter and blend in 1/3 c. cocoa. Stir in 1/3 c. room temperature/slightly warm milk (I usually use evaporated) until incorporated. Add 1 ½ - 3 c. powdered sugar until frosting holds together. You still want to be able to spread it, so don’t get carried away. Tight on time, use the canned stuff, you won't notice much difference.