Welcome to Minnesota!
The name Minnesota originated from the Dakota word for “sky-tinted water”, which aligns closely with the state nickname; The Land of 10000 Lakes.
Recent land surveys have actually determined there are somewhere between 11000 and 15000 lakes, depending on how a “lake” is defined. Settlers have been drawn to the region, most notably Scandinavian and German immigrants, starting in the 1800s and 1900s.
More recently the state has seen immigrants from Latin America and Africa as well.
It is said to currently have the largest population of Somali Americans in the US. Nothing is more eclectic than the potlucks known throughout the Midwest, which celebrate the diversity of the community.
To celebrate this amazing state, we chose a cookie bar famous at many of these Midwest potlucks.
The Seven-Layer Bar is known by other names as well; Dream Bar, Magic Bar and many others.
It consists of 7 layers of deliciousness: graham cracker crust, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, sweetened condensed milk and nuts.
Seven-Layer Bars
Ingredients:
1 1/2 c Graham Cracker Crumbs (12 rectangular crackers)
1/2 c Butter, melted
1 c Chocolate Chips
1 c Butterscotch Chips
1 c Flaked Coconut
1 (14 oz) Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 c Chopped Pecans (or Walnuts)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Make crust by combining melted butter and graham cracker crumbs. Press mixture into a 9×13 pan.
Place the next ingredients on top of the crust in the following order: chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut. Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk and then top with the pecans.
Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes until the edges are light brown.