Nutty Apricot Bars

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.01

Title: Nutty Apricot Bars
Categories: Desserts, Fruits
Yield: 48 servings

12 oz Apricots - dried 1/2 ts Baking soda
3/4 c Sugar 1/4 ts Salt
3/4 c Butter / margarine -softened 3 oz Coconut - flaked
1 c Sugar 1/2 c Pecans or walnuts - chopped
2 c Flour- all purpose

Cover apricots with water, and bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer,
uncovered, 15 minutes or until tender. Drain reserving 1/4 cup liquid.
Coarsely chop apricots, and set aside. Combine reserved apricot liquid
and 3/4 cup sugar in a saucepan; simmer 5 minutes. Stir in chopped
apricots.
Cream butter; gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating at medium speed of an
electric mixer until light and fluffy. combine flour, baking soda, and
salt; add floured mixture to creamed mixture, mixing well (mixture will be
crumbly). Stir in coconut and pecans. Pat about three-fourths of coconut
mixture into and ungreased 13x9x2 inch pan. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes.
Spread apricot mixture evenly over crust, spreading to within 1/4 inch
from edge of pan. Sprinkle with remaining coconut mixture. Bake an
additional 30 minutes. Let cool in pan; chill. Cut into bars. Store in
refrigerator. Yield: about 4 dozen.
From the Southern Living Cookbook

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