After a disappointing Friday when I headed to Chicago to meet with my best friend and didn’t make it there because my reliable German car broke down on the highway, my Saturday turned out to be quite pleasant. For the first time ever I participated in Artist Trading Cards project. There were 30 artists who participated. We all had to make 1 card a day for 30 days starting September 1st. The purpose of making one card a day is just to stay involved in your art since many of us don’t do art for living and in this busy world of ours it is hard to find time to paint. So after 30 days we all supposed to have 900 cards all together. Party was taking place last Saturday at St. Joseph, Michigan, a beautiful town at the Lake Michigan shore. Everyone was asked to bring a dish to share, so I decided to go with Razz-Ma-Tazz Bars (see my Christmas edition here) that really have never failed to put ones taste buds in awe. Party went very well, cards were traded, food was great and the company of fellow artists excellent. I came home happy, I made some new friends, I got 30 new trading cards and all the bars were eaten! 🙂
Razz-Ma-Tazz Bars
*** I use a 1.5 measure of batter for the 9 X 13 inch baking pan. The quantities below are for the 9 X 9 inch square pan. ***
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (115 g) butter or margarine
- 2 cups (335 g) NESTLE TOLL HOUSE Premier White Morsels, divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup (170 g) seedless raspberry jam (I use with seeds and I also add 1 cup of frozen raspberries)
- 1/4 cup (35 g) sliced almonds
Directions
- PREHEAT oven to 325 degrees F (162 C). Grease and sugar 9-inch-square baking pan.
- MELT butter in medium, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. Add 1 cup morsels; let stand. Do not stir.
- BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl until foamy. Add sugar; beat until light lemon colored, about 5 minutes. Stir in morsel-butter mixture. Add flour, salt and almond extract; mix at low speed until combined. Spread 2/3 of batter into prepared pan.
- BAKE for 15 to 17 minutes or until light golden brown around edges. Remove from oven to wire rack.
- HEAT jam in small, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 30 seconds; stir. Spread jam over warm crust. Stir remaining morsels into remaining batter. Drop spoonfuls of batter over jam. Sprinkle with almonds.
- BAKE for 25 to 30 minutes or until edges are browned. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.
♦♦♦
Here are some of my trading cards that I’ve taken to the party.
Watercolor and watercolor pencil:
An apple in pastel…
…and two pencil sketches:
Here are some photos of other artists cards and of the atmosphere in the studio:
bakingwithsibella.com 
Lovely job on the photos – of the art AND the culinary art.
Thank you! 🙂
These bars look fantastic! No better combination than raspberries and white chocolate. I could go for one right now!
I love this idea of the artist trading cards and intentionally practicing your art for 30 days. Yours are so beautiful – I love the landscapes, they are like little snapshots but better than photos. Makes me wish I had that kind of artistic ability! Hats off to you, my friend!
Thank you Korena! 😀 These bars are my family’s favorite and I can tell that people at the party liked them a lot. Raspberries and white chocolate are my favorite flavor combination too!
Painting 1 small card for 30 days was so much fun. I have not painted regularly for a long time and this project really helped me get back into it. Also it was very inspiring seeing other people’s art and gathering ideas.
those raspberries bars look absolutely delicious, and some lucky people got your beautiful cards? lucky them! I particularly like the one with the bridge in Mostar and the one below with the boats
Thanks so much! Razz-ma-tazz bars are my favorite ever! Painting these cards was so much fun, especially because I don’t get to paint with watercolors very often.
Wow! I need to get into a project like that.
I love drawing but some how lately I never find the time to paint or sketch even.
I think I need some motivation
I love the idea of the razz ma tazz! can I use other jams?
This project really helped me get motivated and find time to paint.
I have never made these bars with any other kind of jam just because I think raspberry and white chocolate are a dream team. Almond flavor gives them such a special taste too!
I am asking because rasberries are not something you can easily find here nor is raspberry jam but I will do my best to look for them because this sounds like a recipe that I don’t want to miss
I understand. Strawberry jam might work…Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Please don’t appologize, I will definetly look for rasberry jam first and hopefully I will find some
I really do hope that you will find some. 🙂 You will absolutely love these bars and the whole combination of flavors. Once you make them, please let me know if you liked them.
Practice makes perfect and look at how beautiful these cards turned out. Creative efforts by everyone in the group. It looks like each person has a different style of drawing and very unique. How do you feel after drawing every day for one month?
I am very impressed by your artistic side. Your bars look scrumptious and maybe I will give these a try as I am a much better cook than artist. Take care, BAM
It certainly was a challenge to paint every day for a whole month. Even though the cards are small (3.5 X 2.5 in) still it wasn’t easy. I learned that I can’t paint pastel on such a small surface, so I switched to watercolor and drawing. I am now definitely more in tune and more motivated to paint.
Please give these bars a try, they are to die for, seriously! 🙂
Hugsssss!
Razboljeh se kad ugledah kolače… Looks yummy! :)) And I love that card with the Old bridge painted on 🙂
Hvala! Eh da si blize ja bi ti ispekla pun pleh! 😉 Meni je Mostar uvijek inspiracija, prepun lijepe arhitekture i Neretva je prelijepa rijeka.
Neretva je jedna od najljepsih 🙂 A za kolace… ma kao da si i ispekla, hvala 🙂
these bars look so scrumptious!! (love the name too 🙂 )
and the cards look beaitful!! 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂 The name comes from a Nestle Recipe Book. This is really what attracted me to the recipe and I didn’t regret it! 😉
That looks like such a fun event! You must have been so inspired by each other’s work! My favorite is your angel:) I love the name of your bars too.. just perfect!
Thanks Barb! Yes, it was so much fun and very much inspiring! There is another event again in February, which I am really looking forward too. The name for the bars and the recipe comes from a great Nestle Recipe Book: http://www.amazon.com/Nestle-Classic-Recipes/dp/1412720370/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&qid=1352212991&sr=8-30&keywords=nestle+recipe+book
The bars are very nice and the artwork…wonderful! I have found that people who like to make beautiful and tasty foods are always creative in other areas.
Hello Tonette, I am glad you like my work. I came to the same conclusion that creative people have more than one outlet. There is so many talented and creative people out there and you learn something every day. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
Sibella
Can’t keep my eyes off the razz-ma-tazz bars, but there’s some nifty art, too, your boats included.
Thanks Darryl! If you get a chance, please give them a try. They are absolutely phenomenal! 🙂
The trading cards are wonderful. One a day for thirty days is a good way to revitalize. Looks like a lot of talent among you all. As for the bars… OMG, almonds and raspberries. That’s a drool-worthy combination, Sibella!
Thanks so much Kathleen! My favorite bars too and oh so drool-worthy as you said! 😀
Yum, the bars look amazing and so delicious Sibella! What a wonderful combination of almonds, raspberries and white chocolate. I really want to have one right now. 🙂 The trading cards look so pretty and I must say it again, you’re so talented!
On a side note, I moved my blog over to a new host and lost your subscription! 😦 Please re-subscribe at my new blog http://foodiebaker.com 🙂 See you around!