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Devastatingly Delicious, Decidedly Naughty and Wickedly Addictive Dessert

Dare I tell you about the infamous Seven Layer Bars that have taken over our home for the last few days?

Yes, I shall share the tale of the outrageous, foodgasm that erupts in your mouth each time you take a bite of one of these sinful pleasures. Sinful is where this short story starts. Our friends invited us to a glam affair to “Ring in the Rapture” although as we all know it The Rapture didn’t happen so it turned out to be a chance dress up and partake in sinful drinks and sweets. I made two desserts-devil’s food cake mini cupcakes with vanilla icing and red drizzled pitchforks and the seven layer bars which I like to think of as 7th Heaven.

I made two batches and kept part of the second batch back home when I couldn’t figure out how my husband and I could balance more than four trays of desserts. AND, that my friends is how at around 3pm each afternoon I start hearing a voice beckoning me into the kitchen to open up a tinfoil lined container housing these decadent little treats. I confessed to my friend, Jesse Brune who also happens to be a classically trained chef and my trainer that I should just throw them away. He, who has a love of sweets as well, agreed, “Throw them away or you’ll be doomed.” OK, he didn’t say doomed aloud, but he and I can communicate telepathically.

So after my training session today I went home and ignored the container until 4pm (oh, how strong I am) when I went into the kitchen and chose two squares and slowly ate them while taking a break to read the Hollywood Reporter. I went back into the kitchen and unwrapped the foil again to just take a look, a last look was the plan before I threw the rest away. Then I thought, perhaps I should freeze all the rest, but four squares. Only fair to let my husband have his share before they’re packed away for a few weeks until some fated night he suggests cupcakes for dessert or a mad dash to Milk for the blondie sundae and I say, “We’ve got bars in the freezer.” And guaranteed he’ll say, “Those will do. Those will definitely do.” And yet, I still haven’t packed them yet in freezer bags. Maybe just one last look, one last bite before they hit the cold.

So here’s the simple recipe for the wickedly addictive bars:

Seven Layer Bars

1 stick of butter
1 cup of graham caracker crumbs
1 cup of shredded coconut
1 package of chocolate chips
1 package of butterscotch chips
1 can of condensed milk
Your choice: 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or 1 cup of mini marshmallows

How to:
Melt the butter and pour into a 9 X 13 pan. Layer graham cracker crumbs on top (they will soak up the butter). Then layer the various chips. I admit I also added in peanut butter chips as well. Add the coconut on top of the chips and then add your nuts if you choose to use nuts. Then pour the condensed milk over the layers. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes. If you want marshmallows add them halfway through baking scattered on top. They will soften, get a little oozy and turn a light brown on top.

Take out of oven and let cool. Once thoroughly cooled you can put the pan in the fridge for 10 minutes to make them easier to cut into bars or just go for the soft melty goodness that will happen.

Enjoying a naughty good time at the Ring in the Rapture party. Me, with my halo and Daysun with his horns.

I recently covered the TV Land Awards and got a chance to chat with Jane Lynch (ADORE HER!), the cast of The Facts of Life (we all got our makeup done together in the green room), Family Ties, all the Huxtables, the classmates of Welcome Back Kotter including John Travolta and more.

Me & Dave Price Sassy Cloris Leachman

The Facts of Life Liza Minelli will soon be on stage.

Jeannie Mai and I ready to glam it up on stage for the reveal of makeover of our girl, Chrystie.

Me, Chrystie, her brother and mom celebrating the makeover.

I dressed actress, Emily Bergl from Desperate Housewives for the Hollywood Foreign Press and In Style pre-Golden Globes party in a lavender beaded cocktail dress by Rachel Gilbert.

I dressed actress Emily Bergl for the red carpet event of the Broadway show, “Bloody, Bloody, Andrew Jackson” in balck shimmering cocktail dress by Lloyd Klein.

Dressed actress, Emily Bergl (Desperate Housewives) for “The Home that Hollywood Built Benefit.” She is dressed in Lloyd Klein bustier and pants and Glynneth B jewelry.

Joy Bauer, MS, RD, CDN
Nutrition/Diet expert for the TODAY Show—leader of NBC’s popular series, The Joy Fit Club, and New York Times bestselling author of YOUR INNER SKINNY.

1. For someone who is looking to get healthy and fit what is the single most important thing they need to do to take that first step? Get your head in the game. You absolutely must have the right mentality when it comes to eating well and exercising. Once you do, the rest is a piece of cake.

2. How do you keep your clients motivated and inspired to reach their goals? I focus on triumphs and troubleshoot on their setbacks. And although long term goals are great, I’m also a big believer in short term goals. In fact, I try to make weekly, tangible goals with all of my clients so they can continuously feel a sense of accomplishment. Nothing is more motivating than prevailing week after week!

3. How did you get involved with the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre? Growing up as a kid, I was a competitive gymnast. So I’ve always been interested in sports nutrition and have been working with professional athletes and dancers for more than a decade. About 4 years ago, Peter Martin decided to put together a wellness team for the New York City Ballet. He asked a group of their star principal-dancers to interview several nutritionists and make the final selection. I feel very lucky to have been chosen! At the same time, I began consulting for American Ballet Theatre, as well as working one-on-one with professional dancers from around the world. I am a HUGE fan of the ballet and I’m in awe of their talent!

4. What do you believe to be the top five foods that, if added to a person’s diet, would improve their lives?
Wild Salmon
Berries
Spinach
Red Bell
Peppers
Lentils

5. My most unexpected moment in media _When Meredith Vieira nailed me in the face with a pumpkin pie on The View!

6. My favorite thing in my closet at the moment is _A super-oversized white bathrobe that my kids bought me for Mother’s Day. It’s the BEST—cuddly, warm and sexy (NOT)!

7. Something most people don’t know about me _ I was in a rock band in high school and college. Yup-I was the keyboard player

Joy and me at the TODAY show

Joy Bauer MS, RD, is America’s favorite and most trusted nutrition expert. Joy’s mission is to improve the health of our nation. She believes that smart food choices combined with an active lifestyle are the keys to healthy living. As the nutrition and health expert for The TODAY Show, Joy shares reliable, practical, and straightforward advice that helps millions of Americans eat better and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. She also hosts the program’s popular weekly series called the “Joy Fit Club,” which celebrates determined people who have lost and kept off 100 pounds or more through diet and exercise alone.

The author of multiple New York Times best sellers, Joy has two upcoming books that will help Americans eat and live better. Published just in time for the ever-popular New Year’s weight loss resolutions, Your Inner Skinny is filled with tips on how to achieve permanent weight loss—and ongoing fringe benefits—through combining delicious, healthy food with a manageable exercise program. Joy takes dieters who have tried everything—low-fat, carb-free, pure-protein, and gimmicks galore—from desperation to success in four completely spelled-out, mistake-proof steps. (Collins Living, December 29) Joy’s must-have new cookbook, Slim & Scrumptious, will hit shelves this spring. Packed with more than 75 easy-to-make and family-friendly recipes, the book helps adults and kids eat healthier from morning ‘til night. Plus, Joy offers tips, tools, and techniques that save you time and money in the kitchen, so you can put together quick, affordable meals without compromising on taste or nutrition. Whether you’re looking to lose weight or just need help planning a more balanced diet for your family, this is an essential addition to any cookbook library. (Collins Living, April 6) Joy’s other New York Times bestseller titles include Joy’s LIFE Diet (Harper Collins, December 2008) and Joy Bauer’s Food Cures (Rodale, April 2007). In addition to authoring several books, Joy is the nutrition expert and contributing editor to PARADE & PARADE HealthyStyle magazines, as well as a contributing editor and monthly columnist to SELF magazine. As Yahoo’s nutrition expert, Joy provides the latest nutrition, health, food and diet-related information to millions of their online subscribers. Joy is the founder of one of the largest nutrition centers in the country, with offices in both Manhattan and Westchester, and is also the nutritionist for the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, as well as an associate faculty member at Columbia University. Joy received her Bachelor degree in Kinesiological Sciences from the University of Maryland and a master of science in nutrition from New York University. At the beginning of her career, Joy completed a five-year post as Director of Nutrition and Fitness for the “Heart-Smart Kids Program” - a program that she developed for the Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Department of Pediatric Cardiology in New York City. Joy also served as nutrition consultant for the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, where she designed and supervised their ongoing research in eating disorders and weight management. Furthermore, Joy served as the clinical nutritionist with the neurosurgical team at Mount Sinai Medical Center and taught anatomy & physiology and sports nutrition at New York University’s School of Continuing Education. She was also the exclusive nutritionist for New York University’s faculty, students, and athletes. Joy lives in New York with her husband, Ian, her daughters Jesse and Ayden Jane, and her son Cole.

Joys Professional Affiliations:American Dietetic Association: Registered DietitianAssociate – Columbia UniversityNew York State Certified Dietitian–NutritionistAmerican Dietetic Association: Sports & Cardiovascular Nutritionist GroupAmerican Dietetic Association: Pediatric Practice Group

Shooting “How Do I Look” with Jeannie Mai, our makeover participant and her friends.

Daysun Perkins, handsome husband extraordinaire, Jesse Brune, friend and true star of “Private Chefs of Beverly Hills,” and Me

Four girlfriends received a style intervention on The View. I was able to prove to them that they can look fabulous wearing the same designer brands they love by shopping and styling them in looks from TJ Maxx and Marshalls. That’s me in the middle with the girlfriends. From left to right, Marie, Jill, ME, Yajaira and Carrie.