Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Seriously delicious treat

Spring is really exploding in the Valley. Our hosta are peeking up out of the ground and the dogwood trees are gorgeous. We have zucchini and squash blossoms poking out of the soil in our garden and will plant our tomato and pepper plants tonight (I hope). Have I mentioned that I can't wait to make a fresh tomato pie or a tomato mozzarella salad?

Ok, I don't have a picture to go with this, but here's a really good recipe you can make in almost no time that is so good. This is supposed to be a bar recipe, like lemon bars, that you can eat almost like cookies, but it has never held its shape for me. I just cut and eat it like cake or cobbler. Our kids love this recipe and it makes our kitchen smell really good. This is almost as good as apple pie (not quite, but almost)!

Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars (or cake)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter or margarine
apple-cinnamon filling (recipe below)

Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda in mixing bowl. Cut in butter or margarine, with a pastry blender or 2 knives, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1/2 of this mixture. Press remaining crumb mixture into bottom of ungreased 9x9x2-inch baking pan. Spread with apple-cinnamon filling and then sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 - 35 minutes or until top is golden. Cool on wire rack and then cut into bars. Make about 25 bars.

Apple-Cinnamon filling: Peel, core, and chop 2 medium apples. In medium saucepan combine apples, 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, and dash ground cloves. Bring to boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 8 - 10 minutes or until apples are tender.

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