Cherry Cheese Bars

To all my INVISTA buddies, these are Delicious. (with a capital "D")

Base:
1 C Walnut Pieces, Divided
1 1/4 C Flour
1/2 C Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
1/2 Butter Flavor Crisco Stick (or 1/2 C)
1/2 C Flake Coconut

Filling:
2 pkgs (8 oz) Cream Cheese
2/3 C Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs
2 tsp Vanilla
1 can Cherry Pie Filling
(can substitute cherry with another fruit pie filling)

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 13x9 pan. Chop 1/2 C nuts coarsely. This will be reserved for the topping. Chop remaining 1/2 C nuts finely.

For base, combine flour and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Cut in shortening until fine crumbs form. Add 1/2 C finely chopped nuts and coconut. Mix well. Remove 1/2 cup of mixture (this will be used for the topping). Press the remaining crumbs in the bottom of the pan. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Do not overbake.

For filling, combine cream cheese sugar, eggs and vanilla in a small bowl. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Spread over hot baked base. Return to oven for another 15 minutes.

Spread cherry pie filling over cream cheese layer.

Combine the coarsely chopped nuts and the reserved crumbs. Sprinkle over the pie filling. Return to oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool in pan and refrigerate.