English Tea Squares

  English Tea Squares from the "Farm Journal Homemade Cookies” book may be English, I don’t really know, but they are tasty.  I had a little trouble wrestling the dough into the pan, but my fingers worked best to spread it out on the bottom.  I let it chill about 10 minutes while I measured out the jam, and spreading the jam went well.  I dropped the remaining dough on top with a size 60 scoop and then spread it carefully with a metal offset spatula.  Let them cool a little before cutting and sprinkling with powdered sugar.  I think any favorite jam would be very good in these, and any nuts would be delicious too.  This is a good recipe to make your own with what you have on hand.                  

                           English Tea Squares

     ¾    Cup  Butter

  1         Cup  Sugar (7 ounces)

  1         Large  Egg

  1         Teaspoon  Vanilla Extract

  2         Cups  Sifted All Purpose Flour (8 ounces)

     ¼    Teaspoon  Ground Allspice or Cinnamon

  1         Cup  Almonds -- chopped  (4 ounces)

     ½    Cup  Strawberry Jam

  3        Tablespoons  Powdered Sugar

Beat butter until light; add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla to blend well.  Stir in flour, allspice and nuts.

Spoon about half of mixture (about 13 ounces) into lightly greased 9" square pan.  Carefully spread strawberry jam over the top.  Top with remaining dough.

Bake in 350° 40-45 minutes, or until delicately browned.

Remove to cooling rack and sift powdered sugar over the top.  When cool, cut in 1 1/2" squares.

2011 Cost:  $5.11 with almonds, $3.41 with walnuts, or 15¢ or 10¢ respectively.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 117 Calories; 6g Fat (45.5% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 15g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 16mg Cholesterol; 43mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.