Gooey Turtle Bars

 I'm so happy that it's my day to write the post for this blog;  I really enjoy the process of thinking of a topic, going through my recipes and sharing with you.  The only step that I can't control is whether I receive comments-that part is up to you! I really love to hear from you, so please leave a comment, or comment on my Frugalhomekeeping page on Facebook, if you like.
  Today you get to hear me chat about road trips (and food, of course!)  Tell me which  trips and food you remember most from childhood (or any time in your life....remember the scene from Driving Miss Daisy where Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman share a packed lunch with the car parked and doors opened up?  They were on their  way to Uncle Walter's birthday party...but you gotta eat!)
  This morning, as I wrapped Hubby's roast beef sandwich and plopped his Gala apple into the paper bag,  I thought of my mom fixing on-the-go lunches.  As a child of the 60's, I remember my mom making food for us to take on long car  trips.  Fast food places didn't abound like they do now.  If you were out for the day, you packed some food for the trip.  Restaurants were sit-down places with real napkins and silverware and were  too expensive for  most family  budgets to just stop for  a quick lunch.  You went to a restaurant for dinner or a special occasion. 
 In the summers of the  60's,  road trips were what families did for fun!  You packed up the car, made sure everyone had used the bathroom, rolled all windows down, and off you went for a fun-filled day of  adventure!  One summer when I was probably 8 or 9 years old, Mom and Dad packed up our  'Michael Family Truckster' and we went to Kennywood Park for the day.  We had Mammam and Pap along with us for that trip.  I still remember how special it was to me that Mom had fried chicken (and made M&M cookies!) to take with us.  When lunch time came, there we were with the car opened up, food displayed and sitting anywhere you could find a spot.  I still have fond memories of that day and a picture somewhere (of me and my brother, Greg in front of a giant storybook  at Storybook Forest) to prove how truly great it was!  I'm sure this trip wasn't  as idyllic as I recall it (especially for the adults);  there were probably bugs and heat and tired, cranky children at the end of the day, not to mention a long drive home for Dad.  But, what a wonderful childhood memory they made for us!  Fall is upon us and it is even better weather for one of those "retro road trips".  Get your food packed and go!  Here are some bar cookies to make for the journey:

Gooey Turtle Bars

 2 C graham cracker or Nilla wafer crumbs
 1/2 C margarine, melted (butter)
2 C (12 oz.) chocolate chips
1 C pecan pieces
1 (12 oz.) jar caramel topping

Combine crumbs and margarine in an ungreased 13x9x2-inch pan and press firmly into bottom of pan.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips and pecans.  Microwave opened jar of caramel topping 1 minute on HIGH (stir after 30 seconds!  Will get hot quickly- Be Careful!)  Drizzle caramel over pecans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until chocolate chips melt.  Let cool in pan on wire rack.  Chill at least 30 minutes;  cut into bars.  Makes 2 dozen.

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