Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Chocolate Can't Fix Everything


Every relationship that you have changes you. Sometimes the changes are subtle, like emulating a friend's hairstyle, or the way in which they answer the phone, and sometimes they are drastic, like making a career choice or moving across the country, just to be with a friend. People brush up against your life and leave their fingerprints on it.

Sometimes that might be words of wisdom that come back to you at just the right time. Sometimes it's the memory of an extravagant act of selflessness that prods you to be a better friend. And sometimes it's pieces of pain, shared in quiet moments.

One of my friends once confided in me that her marriage was loveless. Not that either cheated on the other, just that there was no emotion, no passion. I had often wondered why she married this bland man, unremarkable in looks, personality, or finances and one day posed that question to her. She responded, "Because he asked. And I didn't think anyone else ever would." I cried inside, thinking of both of them living in a settle-for, I-can't-do-any-better-than-this marriage.

Another friend was in a truly unhappy marriage. Her husband was demanding, treating her as if she were a slave rather than a cherished gift from God. He was verbally abusive to her and I often found her in tears. I offered our home as a sanctuary for her daughter so that she could drop her off if the fighting got too ugly. More than one late night she came to visit.

One Sunday I sat behind my friend and her husband in church. From the set of her shoulders I knew that she was crying. She left the service early and when I went outside, she was sitting in her car, tears streaking down her cheeks. Though her face was saying, "just leave me alone," I motioned for her to roll down the window. I took her hand and kissed it, leaving an imprint of my lipstick on her hand, a kiss to take home. It made my heart ache that I couldn't do anything to fix it and make everything better.


And what could I say to my very dear friend who's husband of 20 years drained their bank account and left her and their 4 children for the woman he'd been having an affair with for 10 years? I offered to buy her a t-shirt that says, "It's better to have loved and lost than still be married to the crazy b-----d," but that wouldn't fix it all and heal the pain of loss and betrayal.

If only chocolate could fix everything. I'd make a batch of these bars and take them to every hurting woman in my life. But some days it seems like that would be a mountain of bars. I can't do it alone. So I have a challenge for you bakers out there. Make your favorite treat, then, rather than eating the whole batch and moaning about the size of your hips, wrap them up individually in cellophane and put a little ribbon around each one. Tuck some into your purse and see how many hurting people you can find that day to give them out to. And if you run out of hurting people to bless, try just brightening someone's day. There's nothing like the smile of someone who's been randomly given a cookie!


My Heart Breaks For You Bars
(aka Thousand Dollar Bars - adapted from King Arthur Flour)

shortbread layer:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour


caramel layer:

2 cups caramel, cut into small chunks
3 tablespoons heavy cream


chocolate layer:

3 cups chopped milk chocolate or dark chocolate, melted
1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)
Crunchy sea salt for garnishing


1- Preheat oven to 300 Deg. F. Line a 9 x 13-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving enough to hang over the edges.

2- In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla. Add the flour. At first the mixture may seem dry, but will come together as you continue to beat at medium speed.

3- Take the dough (it will be somewhat stiff) and press it evenly into the pan. Lightly flouring your fingertips will help with any sticking.

4- Prick the crust all over with a fork. The holes will allow steam to escape and the crust will bake evenly with fewer bubbles.

5- Bake the crust until it's lightly golden brown on top and the edges are deeper golden brown, about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and set it aside to cool completely.

6- Once the crust is cooled, melt the caramel and cream over low heat in a small saucepan. Pour the caramel over the cooled crust and set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill and firm up.

7- Melt the milk or dark chocolate slowly in a double boiler or over very low heat. If it seems very thick, add a tablespoon of shortening to thin it. Pour evenly over the chilled caramel layer and spread to cover all of the caramel. Sprinkle the sea salt over the chocolate layer. Return to the fridge until the chocolate is well set. Cut into 2" x 2" squares to serve. (The chocolate may shatter if you cut it straight from the fridge, so you might need to let it warm up just a tad before cutting.) It's best to store these bars in the refrigerator.

8- These bars can also be cut and dipped in milk chocolate to resemble Twix ® bars. After the caramel layer has chilled firm, cut down the length of the pan, splitting the bars into two long, narrow bars. Then cut each long strip into "fingers". Dip the chilled bars into melted chocolate, place on parchment paper to set, sprinkle with sea salt, and allow to set up for several hours.

(Note: It's waaaaay easier to spread the chocolate on top, rather than dipping them, but dipping gives a nice, all-over layer of chocolate that's wonderful. Either way, they're delicious. And don't forget the crunchy salt. Salt + chocolate + caramel + shortbread = fabulous. If cookies could fix problems, these would do the job!)

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lynn, you are such a kind heart with a gift of healing (1 Cor 12). Not healing in the "patch it up with a bandage," but the healing which comes from meeting another where their pain is and walking through it with them.

The bars look fabulous and thank you for the exhortation to look for moments to lift up the downtrodden.

Thank you also for the drawer full of homemade cards you sent me during a time of my own upheaval - you work wonders even without chocolate. Love you!

Debbie said...

What a moving post. It really affected me. It made me remember that there are 3 important things in life...1) Be kind 2) Be kind 3) Be kind....The chocolate looks delicious too!

Sarah said...

This is really lovely mom.

Astrid (…and the kitties too) said...

such a moving post Lynn and I love your challenge! Will try to do so!
*Babe-hugs*

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

This post rings so true Lynn for so many woman and the friends who support them through it all. Chocolate can't fix it but it is a temporary comfort!

Elle said...

There really is a special bond that women friends find if they are lucky.You are a special friend and even though you can't fix everything, just being there for a friend is a lot! Great cookies, too. Think of all the smiles they can bring.

Melinda said...

A wonderful post, Lynn. You are so right when you say, sometimes you can not fix it better. But there always are ways to be a better friend during difficult times. And there lies the challenge.
I think kindness and love are key, too. I think I know someone who needs some extra kindness right now and you have shown me that my life is definitely in a position to be there for her! I am going to make some good cookies and walk down to her house today. (I am allowed to walk!)
Thank you for the emails today. They were perfect for cheering me up and a good laugh! Loving the quilt piece colours in progress. xx

grace said...

aw, sweet lady. i live in such a happy place myself that i sometimes get a rude awakening when i see such sadness in others. you're a good egg, and these are good nibbles!

Adam said...

Terrific post Lynn, your friends are lucky to have you. My friend's father passed away suddenly last week at 58 and it was definitely one of those situations that could have used a chocolate cure all. It's funny as a friend in those situations you feel so helpless and useless since all you can do is "be there." But often you find out that just "being there" was more comforting and helpful than anything else you could have done.

Miss High Heels said...

What a great post. People always say that cooks/bakers/chefs put love into their food but your post has made me realise that good food can also bring hope. Especially if it involves chocolate!

joey said...

great post, but i didnt really pay much attention to the story, im interested in the recipe here :p.. thanks for sharing

and whatever hardship you're facing now, i hope you'll make it out succesfully.. goodluck!

Shelly said...

Love this, doing it today.

Barbara said...

That's sad, Lynn. And one has to be so careful NOT to get involved or comment because you never know what will happen in the future. A hug with no words is the perfect thing to do.
And no, chocolate does not make anything better...but giving them away to hurting friends is a good start.

Hazel - Chicken in a Cherry Sauce said...

What a beautiful post. Very sad to hear about your friends. It is a shame that chocolate cannot solve problems, but it can definitely help!

Aveen said...

What a lovely post Lynn, and what a good friend you are.