Margarine and Magic Bars

Magic bars are one of my favorite cookies because there's so many different flavors and textures going on. You have the buttery chewy crust, and the sweet butterscotchy/coconutty (I don't think those are actual words) after taste! I also did a little experiment with these bars. In this recipe, it says to use butter. I thought that this was interesting because you need to make sure that the crust of graham crackers stick together. Even though butter is more flavorful, margarine has better binding properties. I had never made this recipe with margarine before and I have to say, they are so much better! Before, the crust tasted fine but was always really crumby and fell apart when you ate it. And that didn't happen at all! Hooray! For this recipe I used "Imperial" margarine, and I suggest all you guys use it too.

I did a little research on margarine before trying this out and turns out margarine was created in 1813 by a French scientist by the name Eugene Chevreul who discovered a new fatty acid. Margarine did not get popular though until 1869 when Emporer Napolean III thought that it would be good for his poorer subjects to have a cheaper substatute to butter. Margarine stayed popular for awhile because it was less expensive and easier to get than butter. Obviously, dairy companies got pretty upset about the growing population of margarine and was banned in Canada from 1886-1948 becuase of this. Margarine was also was popular in the early 1920s when WWI was happening because it was not rationed like butter was. After that, margarines popularity continued to grow becuase people began to notice that margarine was better with some recipes than others. And now, margarine is a normal house hold iteam that everyone uses! The primary ingredients in margarine include: vegetable oil along with emulsifiers, colorants and various artificial ingredients.vegetable oil along with emulsifiers, colorants and various artificial ingredients. Margarine also has a longer shelf-life than butter because it is mostly made out of vegetable oil and not dairy.

First, pre heat your oven to 250 degrees! Then, get your 9X13 pan and place a stick of margarine in the center. When your oven has preheated, place the pan with the butter in the oven to melt it. WATCH THIS PART VERY CAREFULLY! I check this part at least once every 3 minutes. And every time I checked it, I would move the margarine around to cover the bottom of the pan completely. While this is melting, FINELY crush up 1 1/2 cups graham crackers. After the butter has melted, take it out of the oven and sprinkle the graham crackers over it, covering the bottom of the pan. After you take the pan out of the oven, turn it up to 350 degrees. On top of the graham crackers, sprinkle 1 1/3 cups coconut with 2/3 cups butterscotch chips, and 2/3 semi-sweet chocolate chips. Then, pour a 14 oz. can of Sweetened Condensed milk on the bars. Place in oven for 35-40 minutes. After they ae cooked sprinkle with a small amount of sea salt. Enjoy!!

Recipe:

1 Stick Margarine

1 1/2 Cups Graham Crackers

1 1/3 Cups Baker's Coconut

2/3 Cups Butterscotch Chips

2/3 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

14 Oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk

Sea Salt

What did you guys think of this recipe? Let me know!