2 cups packed Brown Sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

1 stick butter, softened  or  1/2 cup margarine

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup milk

1 egg

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut (optional)

HOW TO

oven at 350°

lightly grease a 9X13 pan. Set aside.

in large bowl, combine brown sugar and flour. Cut butter in with knife until mix resembles coarse crumbs.  Remove 1 cup of this mixture.  Set aside.

add to mixture in bowl:  baking powder and salt.  Use a fork and lightly beat in vanilla, milk and the egg.  Continue beating until smooth.  Pour this batter into the 9X13 pan.

In a small bowl, combine:  chocolate chips & walnuts.  Fold in coconut.  set aside.

sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the batter in the 9X13 pan.  then add the chocolate chip & walnuts.  If batter is not real even, take a spatula and smooth the top carefully.  Nothing like lopsided bars 

bake 35 minutes.  cool the 9X13 pan on a wire rack completely before slicing and serving.