CHATTANOOGA CHEW-CHEWS (A.K.A. TURTLES)

ALICE TARUMIANZ was born, raised, and still lives in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. She is known as Sissy to family and friends and as Sis-Sis to her six grandchildren. The youngest granddaughter, ALICE PERKINS (Nashville, Tennessee), was named in honor of her Sis-Sis. Chocolate chess pies, cookies, brownies, and these incredible turtle candies—Sis-Sis enjoys baking and candy making and can’t wait to teach baby Alice when she’s old enough to help stir; she’s got licking the spoon down now, though. The older grandkids already love baking Christmas cookies with Sis-Sis and, of course, decorating them with lots of icing and sprinkles.

CRUST:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ cup (1 stick) butter (no substitute), melted

1 cup chopped pecans

CARAMEL TOPPING:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (no substitute)

¾ cup brown sugar

1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2 TO MAKE THE CRUST, in a medium bowl mix together the flour, brown sugar, and butter. Press into an ungreased 9 × 13-inch pan. Sprinkle the pecans evenly over the unbaked crust.

3 TO MAKE THE TOPPING, melt the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour the caramel mixture over the crust and pecans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the entire surface is bubbly.

4 Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the bubbly top. Gently swirl the melted chocolate chips with a spatula to give a marbled effect. Cool at least 5 hours. Cut into squares. Out of this world!

MAKES 15 TO 18 SERVINGS.