White Chip Meringue Dessert Bars

"To be is to do." - Immanuel Kant

Working in teams is always a challenge. There are those that seem to be designed to follow. They take orders easily, they execute them without question, and if help is needed, they (hopefully) ask for help in order to finish whatever the task may be. On the other hand, there are those that are made for the leader role. There can be a cool understanding leader that makes everyone feel as if they're a part of a team, but there can also be the dictatorial leader, that makes others feel as if they are a part of an extremely rigid regime. Those types of leaders are the hardest to work with. They don't usually change their ways, they only see things through one perspective, and they can be bullies in order to get what they want. Which do I fall into? I'm somewhere between A and B in the work environment, but I'm definitely not a C. The C people are so hard to work with, that I just wouldn't want to be that much of a pain for the others. What does this have to do with these cookies? I don't know. I just needed to indirectly vent, but these cookies do end up making a sweet end to a tough couple of work days.

White Chip Meringue Dessert Bars
adapted from: Nestlé Best-Loved Recipes

makes about 2 dozen bars

Ingredients:
CRUST
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

TOPPING
12 oz white chocolate chips
5/8 cup coarsely chopped pecans
5/8 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
3 large egg whites
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375F.
2) Combine flour and powdered sugar in medium bowl. Cut in butters with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly onto bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan.
3) Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until set.
4) Combine the pecans and walnuts in a small bowl. Sprinkle chocolate chips and 1 cup nuts over hot crust. Beat egg whites in small mixer bowl until frothy. Gradually add brown sugars. Beat until stiff peaks form. Carefully spread meringue over chocolate chips and nuts. Sprinkle with remaining nuts.
5) Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cool completely. Cut into bars.