Magic Squares

Today I made some Magic Squares- also known as Seven Layer Bars depending on who you ask. I went to an all girls Catholic high school, and when our dining hall would bake up a batch of these for lunch, the girls would just go wild. Those pleated kilts hid a few extra pounds, and because of the lack of boys, the girls were unabashed about their zealous need to grab as many bars as they could carry. Okay- I'm not going to pretend I didn't do it too. I jumped up with the rest of my class as the dining hall man whispered to  his coworker "I give it sixty seconds," as he lowered the tray stacked high with Magic Squares. It probably took closer to thirty seconds for the plate to be wiped clean. Thank god there weren't any boys around- they would have been horrified at the stampede of gluttonous girls launching themselves at the dessert.

This recipe is my attempt to recreate those stampede-inducing Magic Squares, and I think I've gotten pretty close. These never seem to last very long whenever I make them. I give it four hours...

Recipe:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and grab a baking pan about 12'' x 6'' and about 2'' deep.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, crush one box of graham crackers and combine with one stick of room temperature butter and a splash of good vanilla extract.

Tip the graham cracker mixture into the pan and smoosh it all down so its evenly distributed and as smooth and flat as you have the patience for.

Over the graham cracker mixture, layer any combination of chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, crushed heath bars, M&M's, slivered almonds, hazelnuts, whatever you like. It should end up covering the graham cracker crust in a thin even layer- probably 1 1/2 cups in total (depending on how gluttonous you are).

On top of your chocolates of choice, spread a thin layer of shredded coconut, and as many mini marshmallows as you like.

Once you're satisfied with your layers of deliciousness, pour one can of sweetened condensed milk over everything as evenly as you can.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the coconut is browned, the chocolate slightly melted, and the marshmallows all golden and puffy and caramelized on top.

Allow to cool in the pan (or if you're desperate just throw them in the fridge). When they're cooled, cut into squares. You should get between 12 and 14 bars- depending on how fatty you want your bars to be.