Fudge Filled Brownie Bars

Okay...I admit it. This is a new recipe for me. But I think if I 'try' it and it works and several of you try it and you like it ....then it is a 'true' recipe...right? Tried and True. Okay. So this made for a bunch of teens and their speed of consumption was more than enough of an indicator that it meet the 'yum test'. It is from Best Loved Cookies and Bars - A Taste of Home' Holiday Edition. I did make some changes but for the most part it is quite a nice little bar to serve. As it can become quite soft if left out too long, it is not one to pack...if you are looking for Christmas tin gift ideas...unless it will be consumed in short order. Come to think of it...who doesn't break into those tins as soon as they receive them?!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup softened butter
1 egg yolk
3/4 tsp vanilla

FILLING:

1 pkg. fudge brownies

(sorry but homemade brownies won't do unless you have a dry mix of your own. The idea is to 'condense' the fudge to a very thin layer using less liquids than a regular brownie. If you buy a package you should buy one that says it will cover a 13 x 9 in. pan even though you are using a larger one. As I could not find such a pkg. I used 1 and 1/2 of a package that would 'fit' a 9 x 9 pan.
You don't want this filling to be a thick layer so don't overload it!)

1 egg
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil

TOPPING:

1 pkg. of milk chocolate chips, melted
3/4 cup walnuts toasted

Combine the first five ingredients. Press into the bottom of a greased or parchment lined 15" x 10" x 1" pan. Bake at 350 for 15 - 18 minutes or until a golden brown. While it is baking combine the filling ingredients. Spread it over the hot crust. Beware....it will pull the crust up so drop it on by bits over the whole crust to make spreading easier. Bake for 15 minutes or until set. Cool on rack for 30 minutes. Spread with melted chocolate and top with toasted walnuts. Cool completely. Score for future cutting. Refrigerate and cut into bars when ready to serve.