Encore Chess Pie Bars & The 49th Annual CMA Awards

The CMA Awards - Country Musics Biggest Night™ air live in Nashville from the Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 4th at 8/7 CST on ABC.  This is the night when the Country Music industry honors its finest entertainers and celebrates 49 years of excellence. There will be dozens of performances and countless special moments throughout the night, so I hope everyone will tune in and watch. 

What does this mean for Mommy’s Kitchen and all my readers? Well, every year I watch the CMA Awards from the comfort of my home and it’s always a blast. The music, the excitement, and all my favorite country stars, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, and my girl Reba!!! 

Well, this year will be a little different for me, because………….. this year I will be going to the CMA Awards in Nashville!!!!!!! How cool is that? I’m so excited to attend and do a behind the scenes post all about my experience and the excitement of  the CMA Awards. Someone slap me, because I still can’t believe I’m going.
Nashville is one of my favorite cities, the people, the scenery, the music, and the food. Oh, how I love the food!!!! Food and country music go hand in hand, like an old southern recipe, they always have a story to tell. I’m so excited to be returning to a city that welcomes you like family. 

I don’t want y’all to feel left out, so I’m excited to say that Martha White wants to send ONE OF YOU to the CMA Awards too!!!!!!!  Awesomesauce!!! I’m just full of surprises today. The Grand Prize is a trip for Two to Nashville (airfare, hotel and transportation included). The winners get to attend the CMA Awards, as well as tour the Country Musics Hall of Fame/Museum and a special recording experience.

In honor of the CMA Awards, and to celebrate this fabulous partnership, I have a few Martha White award-inspired treats to share with you. The recipe I’m sharing today is for these tasty Encore Chess Pie Bars pictured above. These yummy little chess bars start with a Martha White Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix, and few other basic ingredients. 

My mama always said simple is best and you can’t get any simpler than a Southern Chess Pie. Chess pie has always been a favorite in our house. I made these chess pie bars and my family gobbled them right up and is already requesting an encore!!!!! Get it??? All I can say is that if you’re a chess pie fan than you will fall in love with this easy pie bar version. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try. 

Encore Chess Pie Bars 

Crust
Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
2 – 7.4 oz. packages Martha White® Chocolate Chip Flavored Muffin Mix
1/2 – cup butter, softened

Filling
3 – large eggs
1 1/4 – cups sugar
1 – tablespoon Martha White® Self-Rising White Enriched Corn Meal Mix
1/4 – cup butter, melted
1 – teaspoon vanilla extract
1 – teaspoon white vinegar

To make the crust: Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray. Combine muffin mix and butter in large bowl. Blend with fork just until crumbly. Distribute evenly in prepared pan. 

Press into bottom and about 1/2-inch up sides of pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until very light golden brown. Cool.

For the filling: BEAT eggs on low speed of electric mixer. Add sugar and beat until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Mix well. POUR filling over crust.

BAKE 20 to 25 minutes or until light brown and filling is set around edges. (Filling may puff while baking, but will settle as it cools). Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Recipe yields: 24 bars
Recipe source: Martha White Foods, Inc. 
Crisco is a trademark of The J.M. Smucker Company

Giveaway Includes: 

• Various Martha White Muffin Mixes
• Two Fred & Friends Mix Stix Wooden Drumstick Spoons
• One 5 -Quart Stainless Steel Non Skid Base Mixing Bowl

How To Enter:
Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Martha White Muffin Mix Flavor (Mandatory Entry). 

Bonus Entry: 
Tweet the following for a bonus entry: Stop by @mommyskitchen for a chance to win a #marthawhite #muffin mix prize package http://tinyurl.com/nz4rygo. 
Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know.
Rules: The Martha White Muffin Mix giveaway starts today August 26th 2015 and ends at midnight on August September 5th 2015. This giveaway is open to US Residents only due to shipping charges. If you leave an anonymous comment please include your email address in the event that you are the winner. One random comment will be chosen and notified via email. The winner will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen. Good luck to everyone! 

For another award-inspired recipe check out these Red Carpet Sweet Potato Cupcakes from The Country Cook. These yummy cupcakes are made using Martha White’s New Sweet Potato Muffin  Mix!  These cupcakes are definitely going on my to bake list.