Kenworth Bars

A recipe can reveal a lot about a family’s history. Some of the best recipes have been passed down from one generation to the next and shared only with family members. These recipes give us brief highlights and glimpses of our past through yummy and comforting dishes and treats. Sometimes it’s the old stories we tell about family members when passing down recipes that remind us of family traditions and good times.

Like the family recipe Jackson Kenworth, chef and owner of State Road Restaurant, has and loves. This past June, on his birthday, Jackson’s daughter, Sarah, made him his favorite dessert from his childhood: peanut butter, chocolate, and butterscotch Rice Krispy treats. Sarah tracked down her dad’s youngest sister, Laura, the keeper of all Kenworth recipes. Aunt Laura told Sarah the story she’s heard her father tell dozens of times.

“When Jackson was younger, his mother would hide the treats so he and his brother wouldn’t eat the whole pan. Sometimes she would even hide them in the dryer.”

Sarah says her favorite part of using this recipe is the act of making the bars for someone else. It’s that instruction passed down from Kenworth to Kenworth that make these special treats extra good and just a little tailor-made for those who love (and eat) them most.