Nanaimo bars are a classic Canadian, hand-held, no bake dessert. They have a base layer of graham cracker crumbs, then coconut, nuts, and chocolate are added. The perfect sweet treat!
Have you ever been called something so out of the box that it takes you back and remains at the forefront of your brain all day?
The other day I had to send out an email for business. I am not overly frilly when it comes to work (actually I think the a good description would be ‘matter of fact’), but I never try to be mean or rude. That wouldn’t work out to well for me in the end, would it?
I got a reply though that really just stung me. “You’re not as objectionable as you seem, are you?” was the subject line and that’s all it said regarding what I may have said to be considered objectionable. Snarky, sarcastic, bitchy - all words I could have skimmed past and not really been bothered by, but objectionable? I immediately apologized to the person, telling them I meant them no offense and they replied that it had all been a misunderstanding, but the word objectionable kept floating around on my mind all day. I reread my original email several times, trying to find where the error could have occurred, but nothing popped out at me.
I really think you lose a lot in basic interaction via the internet and often I find myself not commenting on things the way I would say it in person because of that very reason. I spend time thinking that the things I write are probably not going to be read as I intended them and that someone's feelings may get hurt, which is a shame, because if it was a normal face to face interaction, the sarcastic tone would be heard, the amusing facial expression would be seen and the true intention of an otherwise harmless comment would be understood.
I would be truly upset id this personal really did think I was objectionable, so for a good make up treat I’m bringing these Nanaimo bars to work (plus you'll work out any extra frustration smashing up those graham crackers).
Nanaimo bars
From The Happy Baker: A Girl's Guide to Emotional Baking
Ingredients:
For the Base:
- ½ cup (one stick) butter
- ¼ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup cocoa
- 1 egg
- 1 ¾ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¾ cup coconut
Filling:
- ½ cup (one stick) butter, softened
- 3 tbs milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tbs custard powder or instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
For the glaze:
- 3 tbs butter
- ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Preparation:
Base:
In a medium saucepan, combine butter, sugar and cocoa; stir well. Add egg; cook and stir constantly over medium low heat until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Mix in graham cracker crumbs and coconut. Press into a greased 8 or 9 inch square pan. Chill
Filling:
In a mixing bowl, beat together butter, milk, vanilla, custard powder and confectioners' sugar; until light and fluffy. Spread evenly over base. Chill.
Glaze:
In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter and chocolate chips. Let cool slightly. Pour evenly over filling. Refrigerate.
As a side note it should be noted these Nanaimo bars bars were dubbed the Nanu Nanu bars by a friend because neither one of us can figure out the proper pronunciation.
Liz says
WOW! Yummy looking Nanaimo bars (Nah-Ni-Mo with accent on the second syllable :)). I lived for Vancouver for a year in high school, and still have never made these...your recipe may be the one I finally try!
PS...you're definitely not objectionable, Kita!!!
Blog is the New Black says
I'm sorry you got a mean email! I agree, tone is lost over email. It's hard to read someone's mind! 😉 These bars look great- I first heard of them on Oh She Glows and I've been wanting to make them since. I love your cake tray- I have the same one with black ribboon! 😉
Ruby says
Oh dear god, just when I thought I'd finally got these things out of my head. I made and posted these at New Year's and have only just managed to lose the 5 pounds I gained doing that! Oh, and it's 'nun-EYE-mo'. But I was a Mork fan, so Nanu Nanu works too. 😉
Natalie says
I've given up trying to understand people, it makes you crazy! You might have been their, straw that broke the camels back, they might have had a bad day/week/year. It's a pity people don't come with a history button that you can press before communicating with them. Chocolate makes it all better though and these babies look divine!!
Vicki @ Wilde in the Kitchen says
It's funny how things in e-mail can lose context and seem more hurtful than intended, I totally understand your dislike of "objectionable." On the other hand, your naniamo bars look fantastic. I've been searching for a while for custard powder. Good to know I can substitute vanilla pudding.
Tes says
I was once called "snob" by the teacher in my high school through a letter which also send to my parents. I know how you feel... to be called something not good and you are not that at all.
Your naiamo bar looks gorgeous and it sounds luscious 🙂
Lora @cakeduchess says
Yes, I just got one of those emails yesterday. They leave you shaking your head. I try to not text or email when I have something important to say. These bars...mmm...these bars! You're so sweet to bring them to work. :)Gorgeous!
Toby says
The bars should take the edge off ANY snarky email comments. they look great!
I was once told by a client that my desk had more personality than I did... that haunted me for months...
fooddreamer says
Nanaimo bars are one of my favourite desserts ever. I can't imagine that they wouldn't help smooth things over. Email is tricky, I used to be an academic advisor and the difficulty of having to write an email that is both firm and polite, while chastizing a student...it's a true art!
jean says
I often wonder, too, how my communication comes across both at work and on my blog--which I use two completely different writing styles for. I'm surprised that someone would feel the need to respond to you that way. There are so many variables in communication-oh, well. I'm glad that you have these nanaimo bars ease the mood. They look fab!
Roxan says
That's frustrating, when tone gets misunderstood through email. I put a lot of effort into avoiding that but sometimes it still happens. And I try not to let it get to me either, knowing that i'm probably just reading an email wrong, but sometimes it still does! We're all human though 🙂 so it happens... You're a great coworker to bring in these bars as an offer of peace.
Corrine says
Some people just read way too much into things, sorry you got such a nasty email!
Those Nanaimo bars looks great, I haven't had one since I left Canada!
Steph@stephsbitebybite says
I would take someone reading in to something the wrong way if this is what the result is. Holy Yum!!! 🙂
Dionne Baldwin says
How frustrating when something like that just sticks in your head. Especially something like *that*! Hopefully you felt very accomplished after making these because your photos are fantastic. Truly. These Nanana bars look incredible.
For the record you certainly don't strike me as objectionable. Now please pass me a bar. 🙂
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
I have that cookbook too and love it. Kimmie from Full Circle Adventures sent it to me! 🙂 I still am trying to decide on something to bake from it. Too many good things!
Sorry about the email from that person. 🙁
Your Nanaimo Bars look soooo good. I have been meaning to make them for so long. YUM!
briarrose says
That comment would have stuck in my head as well.
These bars look amazing!
Amy at TheSceneFromMe says
Your bars turned out fabulous looking! And I love that plate, because you can change up the ribbon and make it look completely different!
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
What an incredibly delicious way to take out your frustration! I can totally sympathize:-(
Kate @ Diethood.com says
You are not very objectionable, are you?
Now can I have a few of those bars?? 😉 I love these little Canadian treats ... yours looks great!
vtkitchen says
i feel like people care too much about the little dramas at work. that's not what life is about and that's why working kills so many of us with stress. im glad you have cooking to take the edge off, but i think you should just brush it off your back and be happy! cheers!
Allison Crowe says
yuppers it's "nun-eye-moh" - these looks great!! 🙂
I'm actually from Nanaimo, haha, (born and raised) and was never a huge fan of traditional Nanaimo Bars (i know, i know - terrible) but these look delish! Nicely done :oD
(ps the story of Nanaimo bars is pretty interesting and goes back to, apparently, world war 1 - i think?! it may be world war 2.. apologies.. but, a woman from nanaimo was shipping her son these dessert squares that packed well and kept for a long time to be shipped overseas - hehe - and they gained popularity!)
Kat @ Cupcake Kat says
These are the most beautiful nanaimo bars I've ever seen.
I'm from Canada and have been to Nanaimo so I take pride in these little bars
Z says
I cannot possibly reveal how incredibly great these are and give them the justice they deserve!! A million and one thanks for these!! 😀
Kathryn says
Yum! They look kind of like little Oreo bars! I definitely want to try making these. And I totally know what you mean about the misunderstandings through email- it's hard to read emotion in emails and sometimes you put emotion where there is none. Don't worry about that person- they were rude back for no reason.
Leah Lipszyc says
Here is the origin, from wiki: The Nanaimo bar is a dessert of Canadian origin popular across North America. The Nanaimo bar is a bar cookie which requires no baking, and is named after the West-Coast city of Nanaimo, British Columbia. It consists of a wafer crumb-based layer, topped by a layer of light vanilla or custard flavoured butter icing, which is covered in chocolate made from melted chocolate squares. Many varieties are possible by using different types of crumb, flavours of icing (e.g. mint, peanut butter), and types of chocolate. Two popular variations on the traditional Nanaimo bar involve mint flavoured icing or mocha flavoured icing.
It seems like it might be too sweet (I'm sure my kids never thought they'd hear that from me,) so I'm going to try Tofutti cream cheese in the filling, like a cheesecake bar.
Mateja @Indulging Life says
These look out of this world delicious! Oh, and chef Dennis said to tell you that he send me over here 😉 Been browsing through the recipes and everything looks so yummy! Wishing you a pleasant weekend 🙂
Mari's Cakes says
These bars look delicious. You have a great blog! Love what I see here.
Have a great weekend 🙂
Promise Gephart says
These look delicious, plus chocolate and coconut is the perfect combo...BUZZ!
jennifer says
VERY funny, and these look WONDERFUL !!
I used to get the feeling folks thought me "snarky" at work too, and would live in fear that my work emails were being taken out of context as I sent them, "just the facts" notes too.
So... I started using smilies. Suddenly, basically just to cover my ass for any mis-interpretation of straightforward notes, my notes were full of smilies. Hilarious to me!
So get back to me when you can. 🙂
... kidding... mostly!