Food For The Gods

Thank you Maria Elena of Tuesdays At Our Home  and Thank you Ladies of Pretty Pintastic Party for the feature of my Pancit Bihon Guisado. 

Note: please don't be offended, I am kinda worried because of its name. Yes, these Filipino Bars is called Food For The Gods ever since I can remember. Please don't take it against me.

Butterscotch and Food For The Gods are the two most popular treats or pasalubong back home. We enjoy these with so much delight. Butterscotch is usually a favorite item for pasalubong or present and we eat this anytime of the year. On the other hand Food for the Gods is an old time favorite and  best give away during Holiday Season (Christmas and New Year's Day). In my case I don't wait for holiday season because I can bake and enjoy Food for the Gods anytime I want. The name itself is a mystery because we don't produce dates and walnuts in the Philippines. I believe that it is also a Spanish specialty and the origin theoretically can be traced to the Arabic occupation of the Ibizan Peninsula from 740 to 1235 AD and the exploration of the Arab world by the Spanish and Portuguese. I tried to know the history of Food For The Gods but I really cant find any that will answer or support the history of its name 

Well I just thought that maybe.. yes, maybe..since dates and walnuts are not produced in the Philippines, the price of these two major ingredients is very expensive and not all have the access to it during those days. So, this Filipino Bars is kinda precious and as a term of rarity, we call this Food For The Gods..or shall I say because we were under the Spanish Regime for 333 years, these Espanols were the only privilege ones to enjoy it as a dessert, as a treat. Well, I could only share my assumptions but Im glad I was not born in that era. Our country and its people suffered so much.

Here is my recipe for Food For The Gods. Brace yourself because its a unique version and I am proud of its heavenly taste. If you like your bars to have longer shelf life then you may add brandy. During Holiday Season, I prefer to add brandy.

Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup butter melted
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
4 large eggs
2 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp honey
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp brandy(optional)
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup chopped dates
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3 tbsp brandy,to soak dates and nuts(optional)
3 tbsp all purpose flour ( from 2 1/2 cup flour)
3/4 cup chocolate chips
Direction:
Combine dates and walnuts, then soak them in 3 tbsp brandy. Set aside for 3 to 7 hours.
Drain any excess liquid then toss with 3 tbsp of flour taken from 2 1/2 cup flour and in case you don't want to put brandy, then you can just toss dates and walnuts with 3 tbsp flour.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a mixer bowl, mix butter and both sugar, brown and white until soft and smooth.
Then add the eggs, one at a time.
Continue mixing and add honey, molasses, vanilla and brandy(optional).
Make sure the ingredients are well combined.
This time add slowly the flour mixture, mix with the use of your spatula.
Mix them gently and make sure its well combined without any bubbles.
Batter should be thick and smooth.
Next add the mixed dates and walnuts and lastly add the chocolate chips.Mix gently.
Transfer the mixture in a greased square baking pan the size of 9x9.
Bake at 350 or 180 for 30 to 40 minutes.
Cool and cut into square bars.
Now you have delicious bars, enjoy!

Here is the mixture,The result is amazing anyway...see the batter with its golden brown color and its thick smooth consistency..dates and nuts are all in.. and...it really has no chocolate chips but if its for the gods,then I might as well add Chocolate Chips..What do you think?

 I can't wait, I am so excited..I forgot ...the good old expression.."let it cool first"..I made the mistake of cutting and eating my bars at the same time.Oh no..my precious butter fingers..you cannot do two
things at the same time...OK?

I decided to continue anyway,what done is done..I cant do anything more..but I can do anything less... take some..take some...and enjoy while its hot!

Take a look! buttery..dense..moist..nutty chewy! the presence of brandy and chocolate chips has made a new impression ..an addition of sweetness and chaos is always welcome. I would love you to enjoy and savor one classic Filipino Bar...Food for the Gods, now with Brandy and Chocolate Chips.Lets eat.lets giggle and lets be merry. Have a great week to all!

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