It had been some time since I last made this recipe for Viennese Chocolate Walnut Bars.
I knew it was a Maida Heatter recipe (my "go-to" guru for cookies and desserts), but the book was misplaced, so I began searching through my filing cabinet and there it was... the recipe that was published in our local paper and a photo of my daughter, Missy.

The year was 1981 and Missy was 10 years old.

We loved to bake together and she enjoyed competing in bake-off competitions and won some ribbons. This recipe is one of our all-time favorites. After she won an award using this recipe, she wrote a letter to Craig Claiborne at the New York Times and he forwarded Missy's letter to Maida Heatter and Missy received a lovely personalized reply in return. That letter is framed and hangs on her wall.

She continues to love to bake and has become known for her many cheesecakes that she has prepared over the years for birthdays, anniversaries, and parties.

The newspaper clipping is now yellowed and a bit fragile, but still holds the wonderful memories of cooking together, the smell of chocolate baking in the oven, and the pride of serving a special dessert.

Please see the next entry in "My Recipe Box" for the recipe and photo of Viennese Chocolate Walnut Bars...