I don't think that I have much of a Minnesota accent. I'm clearly not from a coast or the south but I could pretty much be from anywhere in the midwest (except that the game is Duck Duck Gray Duck, not goose...argue all you want).

Let me repeat this, I don't think that I have much of a Minnesota accent...except when it comes to the word, bars. Not bars as in: "Let's meet at one of the many bars in the city." Bars as in: "Oh, did you try one of the delicious bars that Marge brought to work?" 

It's the "s."

This may also be the reason why I do not bake many bars; perhaps I am purposefully avoiding the event in which I have to say the word out loud.

It is worth it for these, though:

Halfway Bars

Make the bars: Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9x13" baking dish with parchment paper (see following photo).

Whisk flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks to the mixture one at a time until incorporated. Add the vanilla and water. Gradually add the flour mixture until the dough comes together.

Using your hands, press the cookie layer into the baking dish. Add the dark chocolate chips to the cookie layer and press them into the dough which will make adding the meringue layer much easier.

In a completely clean mixer bowl, whisk the egg whites on high until frothy. Gradually add the remainder of the brown sugar to the egg whites until the mixture holds firm peaks.

Spread the meringue on top of the other two layers. This can get a little messy but I suggest scooping large clumps of the meringue in different places and then use a spatula to smooth it into one layer. Once this is complete, press an additional piece of parchment paper onto the top so that the layer remains flat. Bake with the paper for 20 minutes. Remove the layer of parchment and bake for another 10 minutes or until the edges of the cookie layer or brown.

Cool completely before removing from pan.

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temp
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, separated
2 eggs, separated
1 tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla
12 oz dark chocolate chips