Unbelievable Apricot Bars

These Apricot Bars are a fabulous cookie recipe to try if you like apricots.  Never tried apricots? Oh my what a memory that brings to mind for me. 

My grandmother had apricot trees in her orchards and I can remembers summers when we would help pick the apricots, or shake them from the tree onto sheets laid on the ground under the tree.  We would eat them until we were sick.  Grandma would make apricot preserves and dried apricots. 

When making the dried apricots, she had this huge rock on the side of the mountain next to her home.  We would wash the apricots and put them in these special made flats that were screens made with a square wooden frame.  The apricots would be laid on the screen on that huge rock in the sun until they dried. 

When dried they would be placed in airtight containers until ready to eat as a snack like trail mix, or used in desserts like these Apricot Bars.  Now after I went to all that trouble to whet your appitite, you just have to try this recipe.  Enjoy.

Ingredients:
1 c. dried apricots
2 t. grated orange peel
¾ c. water
2 T. orange juice
1 c. flour
2 eggs beaten
6 T. or ¾ c. butter
1-1/2 c. flaked coconut
1-1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 T. cornstarch
¼ t. salt

Instructions:
Cut apricots in small pieces, combine with water. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.

Mix 1 c. sugar, corn starch, and salt. Stir into undrained apricots. Cook till thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Stir in remaining ingredients, reserving ½ c. coconut. Spread apricot mixture over baked crust. Sprinkle with coconut. Bake 350° for 25 minutes. Cool in pan and cut. Chewy mixture.