Hermit bars

1 c White sugar
1 c Brown sugar
1 c Margarine or shortening
2 Eggs
2 c Raisins
1/3 c Water
1 ts Baking soda
3 c Flour
1/2 ts Salt
1 ts Cinnamon
1 ts Vanilla
1 c Walnuts chopped
1/2 c Coconut ( optional )

My family loves the bar form of hermits which I bake. My husband says these taste just like a store bought package brand he enjoys- but these are even better!
In a large bowl cream sugars, margarine and add 2 eggs. Cover raisins with water and boil tender. Drain, reserve liquid and cool. Add soda to raisin water.Add raisins to creamed mixture.
Sift dry ingredients together. Add dry ingredients with raisin water to creamed mixture; stir to make a thick pliable dough. Divide mixture in half.
Spread each half into a bar form, length of cookie sheet and about 1 1/2 inches wide. Bake in a 400F oven until golden and set about 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet a few minutes and carefully remove to rack to cool. Slice when cold. These are soft and chewy.
Notes: Bake in center rack- these tend to burn easily so bake on insulated baking sheets. Freezes well. I have also omitted the eggs with excellent results! Bars will be less cakey but still very tender and chewy. Either way these are excellent!!!!