Nainamo Bars

According to local legend about 35 years ago, a Nanaimo housewife entered her recipe for chocolate squares in a magazine contest. She chose to dub the entry "Nanaimo Bars". The entry won a prize, thereby promoting the town as much as her cooking. Nanaimo residents refuse to accept this theory, however, believing that once you set foot on Vancouver Island, there are no other places in the world. The official Nanaimo Bar recipe was available as a handout as well as on quality tea towel and apron souvenirs. What matters is that these are downright easy and delicious! The bottom layer is a graham cracker-chocolate combination with either walnuts or pecans. Coconut is optional. The middle layer is a custard-based vanilla buttercream, and the top layer is melted chocolate. These are easy to make, and so popular at Christmas time.