Portuguese Walnut Squares

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup softened butter (not runny or whipped)
• 1 tablespoon softened butter (for glaze)
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 6 tablespoons port wine (tawney or ruby or madeira, divided)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 cups walnuts (divided)
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 dash salt

Recipe

• 1 cream butter and sugar using electric mixer, if available.
• 2 add egg and beat well.
• 3 add vanilla, milk, and 2 tbsp of port.
• 4 grind or grate, chop very fine, or whirl in blender 1 cup nuts.
• 5 place in mixing bowl.
• 6 add dry ingredients and stir.
• 7 fold in butter/egg mixture to make a batter; do not over-beat.
• 8 spoon into a lightly buttered and floured 9 inches square pan.
• 9 bake in moderate oven 350f 15-20 min or until cake tests done.
• 10 as soon as the cake is removed from the oven, brush top with 2-3 tbsp of port.
• 11 cool to room temperature.
• 12 mix well confectioners sugar, salt, 1 tbsp softened butter, and 1 tbsp of port, or enough to obtain a glaze of spreading consistancy. tint a light pink with a little red food coloring.
• 13 spread cake with glaze.
• 14 sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
• 15 set until firm.
• 16 cut into 16 squares.