Congo Squares - 1954
Note: "Lick the bowl" involved using a long wooden spoon to scrape the bowl of unused dough and eating it -- yes, uncooked!
Congo Squares - 1974
By 1974, I had a little family of my own. We lived in Wagener, SC. And yes, I always made Mama's Congo Squares for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. And yes, they were still good -- and my children loved to "lick the bowl"! My children learned, as we had, that they could more easiy have the long sticks of end pieces after cutting -- and save the pretty pieces for company! Do you have everything you need to make some good congos?
Congo Squares - 2004
In 2004 we attended the Tate Family Reunion in Helen, Georgia. My granddaughter attended with us for the very first time. What fun! And yes, again I made congo squares! And they were almost as good as they were when mama made them back in 1954! The Recipe for Congo Squares
This recipe is taken from The Tate Table, a family cookbook created by my sister, Betty Tate DeLorme, and presented to the family in 1983. The first page reads:When we think of home...
We cannot help but think
of the kitchen table..
Over the years, all the
laughter and fun...
And always...
Bountiful food.
CONGO SQUARES
Wish I had a nickel for every one I've eaten! Mama's recipe from Pendleton Treasures... Becky Tate
2 3/4 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup shortening or margarine
2 1/4 cups brown sugar (1 Lb box)
3 eggs
1 cup nut meats (pecans), broken
1 package semi-sweet chocolate morsels (small bag)
Mix and sift flour, baking powder and salt. Melt shortening and add brown sugar. Stir until well mixed. Allow to cool slightly. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add dry ingredients, then nuts, and chocolate bits. Pour into greased pan about 10 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 3/4. Bake at 350 degrees, 25 to 30 minutes.
Yield - 48 squares. When almost cool, cut into squares approximately 2 x 2.
(Joan says not to forget to "pat 'em down" about halfway through the baking process.)
2008 - My personal notes about congos!
Read and heed!
You have to be in a hurry to make these work. In a hurry, busy, but happy! I am serious! The dough knows!The dough is very heavy. Mama taught me to wet my hands and pat the dough into the pan.
When they are about half done, open the oven door, grab the rack and lift it about a half inch, and let it drop. This will cause the congos to fall, and make them ever so chewy and good.
I use self rising flour now and omit the baking powder and salt. If I cannot find that small bag of chocolate chips, I use about a cup of chocolate chips. It works out just fine.
I remember it all with this little chant Mama taught me.
"Melt butter, add sugar, beat well, let cool. Add eggs one at a time." I still - to this day - say that as I bake congos! I am sure there was more of it, but that is the part I remember!
In my notes, mama has written -- "tee hee - take it easy on intake - very fattening!"
ADDENDUM: I think in our modern age, all flour is pre-sifted, so you do not have to worry about that anymore. I did not realize that the recipe calls for "sifted" flour until I read your delightful comments. Thank you!
What Does a Congo Square Look Like?
A congo square is just a variation of a brownie -- a bar cookie - a fancy variation. I will look for some pictures of one, but -- I have never had them around here long enough to take a picture! They disappear really really fast! A congo is a light brown brownie with pecans and chocolate chips!
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Are you going to make some congos this week?
I love to read your comments. Thank you for visiting!
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- OhMe OhMe Nov 4, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
- Lensrolling to Our Tate Family Reunion
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- TwoDogHouse TwoDogHouse Oct 12, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
- I had never heard of "congo squares" but I will be sure to give them a try. They have a lot of the same ingredients I would use in a chocolate chip cookie but with less work. Thanks for reminding me of the good old days when families did things like bake together. It was always a tradition in our family too. I can't wait to read the rest of the Tate family recipes.
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- Toni Toni Sep 17, 2009 @ 3:37 pm
- My mom made congo squares when i was growing up. She was an awesome cook. We called them bongo congo squares. i took the recipe as i moved foward in life, making them quite often myself. Made them for a friend in the Navy one time and ended up making them for the whole troop.. they called them 'blonde brownies'... oh the memories of my childhood.
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- puzzlemaker puzzlemaker Aug 30, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
- Thanks for sharing this Joan. I will certainly make these as soon as my waistline can stand it. Sounds like I'd munch them down right after they come out of the oven. I have no will power for such good food!
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- terrygtatetexas terrygtatetexas Aug 2, 2009 @ 12:07 pm
- They Sound Great!!, I will have to make them and try them out on my Tate Family. I would really like to know more about your family line. I am also interested in the Tate Family Reunion in Pendleton SC 2010. My Great Great Grand Parents were born in that area in 1810.
Terry Glen Tate
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- 24websurf 24websurf Jul 16, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
- Oh my goodness! I think I'm in heaven with this one! Printing the recipe now and saving... forever!
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- Heather426 Heather426 Jul 3, 2009 @ 7:01 pm
- well there goes my diet! sounds yummy, I will try it for sure.
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- ChapelHillFiddler ChapelHillFiddler Jun 19, 2009 @ 5:57 am
- what a riot! will DEFINITELY make them but probably not this weekend as we will be maxed out on wedding cake tastings! thanks for sharing, some people hide their best recipes away and keep them super-secret.
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- MARI MARI Jun 14, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
- Hey my Grandma made these & I'd lost the recipe. Enjoyed your page. Only thing my Gram did was use vanilla extract. Just a little but, everything else the same. I'm making them now and intend to feel ill later as I will definately eat a lot of batter. Thanks for sharing! Mari : )
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- spirituality spirituality May 15, 2009 @ 10:06 am
- Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)
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- stargazer00 stargazer00 Feb 9, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
- Congo squares sound yummy! I'd love for you to submit this recipe lens to my Hungry Squidz Choice Group.
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- TheGreenerMe TheGreenerMe Jan 14, 2009 @ 7:26 am
- Great work on this delicious looking lens! These sound incredible!
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- Lynne Sumerel Lynne Sumerel Dec 18, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
- I'm going to make some of these...leave them for Santa But then again we may eat all of them before he comes! Thanks for the receipe.
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- Joan4 Joan4 Nov 27, 2008 @ 9:53 am | in reply to OhMe
- Wish I could get some to you! Mine are better this year than ever!
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- OhMe OhMe Nov 27, 2008 @ 9:43 am
- It's Thanksgiving and I don't have any Congo Squares. BooHoo.
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- Jamie2258 Jamie2258 Nov 22, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
- They sound wonderful , I'll have to try them! Thanks :)
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- ClaudetteKeith ClaudetteKeith Nov 16, 2008 @ 5:14 pm
- *5 TO YOU.
GREAT LENS. I will try them.
Claudette
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- Margo_Arrowsmith Margo_Arrowsmith Nov 13, 2008 @ 8:13 am
- This lens is how I first found the Tate family! *****
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- rms rms Nov 11, 2008 @ 7:42 am
- Thank you for this fine addition to the Cute ittle Cupcakes and Tasty Treats group!
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- emmalarkins emmalarkins Nov 5, 2008 @ 10:11 am
- Yum! You're making my mouth water. Never heard of it before, but it sounds worth a try!
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- rms rms Oct 28, 2008 @ 8:48 am
- This delicious recipe lens is being featured at www.cabaretsquidoo.com today!
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- Jewelsofawe Jewelsofawe Oct 23, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
- I have never heard of a congo square. Thanks for the comment on my blog. Don't you have a blog? I am trying to find it and put a link to it on my blog, but I can't find it. Unless you don't have one.
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- kiwisoutback kiwisoutback Oct 23, 2008 @ 9:08 am
- I just added this lens to our chocolate chip cookies lens! Nice work, I'd love to try these out.
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- awelldressedbullet awelldressedbullet Oct 21, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
- What a wonderful lens, thank you so much for sharing such special family moments and a special family recipe with us! - Kathy
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- Kate Kate Oct 13, 2008 @ 5:48 am
- Hey Joan, nice lens! 5 star all over!
Kate
Morocco villa.
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- stargazer00 stargazer00 Oct 4, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
- Boy do these sound good! I had never heard of them before. I think I've been missing something!
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- Lou Lou Sep 24, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
- I have just made and eaten my first congo bars. They are great and so easy to make. That's the important part. Thanks for sharing. I am sure these will become a tailgate favorite!
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- vbright105 vbright105 Sep 16, 2008 @ 7:39 pm
- Oh yum! I was just checking out recipes in the dessert contest...(I can't vote, sorry) but that won't stop me from making these! Encore! Encore!
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- lakeerieartists lakeerieartists Sep 15, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
- This one is a new one on me! Welcome to the Comfort Food Group.
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- SemperFidelis SemperFidelis Sep 4, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
- Congo Squares? Hmm, can't imagine what one smells like! lol Nice lens Joan.
Blessed, 5-starred, and favorited by a Squid Angel today! :)
Colleen ~ www.squidoo.com/squid-angel
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Sep 3, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
- I never heard of congo squares but they sound good so we're going to try them.
Great lens.
Lizzy
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- Susan52 Susan52 Aug 23, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
- I really, really need to make these! Can I be in your family? You have the best recipes and the best reunions. So much fun!
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- Stazjia Stazjia Aug 23, 2008 @ 11:59 am
- I've never heard of congo square, I don't think we have them here in the UK but I think I'll try making them. Great lens.
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- poutine poutine Aug 23, 2008 @ 10:38 am
- Love to read about family stories. Those bars sure sound yummy....but fattening....
Poutinje
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- sisterra sisterra Aug 17, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
- Great lens! I love Congo bars.
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- KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino Aug 13, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
- Welcome to Culinary Favorites From A to Z. I'll add you to our LOTD section next time I update.
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- chef_filipina chef_filipina Aug 7, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
- Very informative.
Great lens. Rated it 5 stars.
Feel free to visit http://pinoyfoodtaste.blogspot.com/
Nothing can be more delicious. Cook it to your home!
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- TheInfamous7 TheInfamous7 Aug 5, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
- Brilliant Joan!! Congrats on the LOTD and thankyou for introducing me to a New Dessert!! :-) I shall try making some and tell you how they go down in the UK :-) x x
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- starlitparlit starlitparlit Aug 5, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
- Congratulations on Lens of the Day. Congo Squares sound so yummy. I can't wait to try out the recipe. This is the first time that I ahve heard of them.
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- bbug bbug Aug 3, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
- I can't wait to give this recipe a try. Great job 5*
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- Tiddledeewinks Tiddledeewinks Aug 2, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
- Congratulations on LOTD! I remember my mother-in-law making Congo squares way back.
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- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Aug 2, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
- Congrats on lens of the day, I am going to have to try these congo squares! It is the first I heard of them. Linda
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- Squidster Squidster Aug 2, 2008 @ 1:06 am
- Hmm, sounds yummy, I might have to try this recipe (and let my boys lick the bowl)! Brings back memories of childhood.
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- alicesy alicesy Jul 31, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
- Excellent Lens. I like the quality insight you have provided here about Congo Squares - A Tate Family Tradition. Keep up the good work.
Please check out my Police Jobs Blog.
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- Laura Laura Jul 31, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
- My beloved ex-mother in law makes these. I always loved them. She got the recipe from your mama years ago. i havent made any or thought about them in years, but think I might make some this weekend.
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- Lakota429 Lakota429 Jul 31, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
- Yummy!!!! These have always been one of my favorites! Congrats on LOTD!! 5 stars! Well-deserved! Would love it if you came on over for a visit...Annie~
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- Rob3 Rob3 Jul 31, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
- Excellent lens! Congratulations on LOTD. I had not heard of Congo Squares before, but I would love to try them sometime. 5*
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- TLC33 TLC33 Jul 31, 2008 @ 3:33 pm
- Congrats on LotD! I must try some of these, they sound so yummy. 5 stars for a great lens!
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- PatinKC PatinKC Jul 31, 2008 @ 12:50 am
- Congratulations!! Great Job.
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- RapidFire RapidFire Jul 30, 2008 @ 5:14 am
- Greetings from Malaysia! Great to learn about a new food! We Malaysians love eating and we can find eateries open all night long. Great job with LOTD
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by Joan4
July 28, 2008
Lens of the Day
Congo Squares - A Tate... (more)









