Recipe: Nutty Apricot Bars

Title: Nutty Apricot Bars
Categories: Desserts Fruits
Servings: 48

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

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