Apricot Pastry Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup shortening
• 3 eggs, seperated
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 (12 ounce) cans apricot filling
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Recipe

• 1 in a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• 2 in a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks, 2 egg whites, milk and vanilla; gradually add to crumb mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. divide in half, making one portion slightly larger.
• 3 roll out larger portion of dough between two large sheets of waxed paper into a 17inchx12inch rectangle. transfer to an ungreased 15inchx10inchx1inch baking pan. press pastry onto the bottom of and up the sides of the pan; trim the pastry even with the top edges. spread apricot filling over dough, sprinkle with walnuts.
• 4 roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pan;place over filling. trim, seal and flutes edges. cut slits in top. whisk remaining egg ; brush over pastry. sprinkle with remaining sugar.
• 5 bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. cool on a wire rack. cut into bars before serving.