Chocolate Meringue Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Cookie crust
1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 egg yolks
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons milk or 3 tablespoons water
Bar topping
6 ounces chocolate chips
3 egg whites
2/3 cup brown sugar or 2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Preparation

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
Beat butter, sugars, egg yolks, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until soft and creamy. Mix dry ingredients together and add into the butter-sugar bowl along with the milk. Spread evenly into 9\"x13\" pan. Sprinkle with a laer chocolate chips.
Beat egg whites to soft peaks, beat in brown or white sugar and vanilla. (Brown sugar yields a slightly more tawny flavor.) Fold in nuts (if using) and spread over the chocolate chips.
Bake 30-35 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting and serving.