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- Category: Past Issues
Greetings. Today’s recipe for oatmeal squares can be used as a basic formula to vary to your taste or mood. For example, dried cranberries or chopped dates could be substituted for the raisins. The maple syrup might be switched out for honey, agave nectar, or even molasses. Try almond butter and chopped almonds for the peanut butter and peanuts. The cranberries mentioned above would marry well with an almond version, as well as the addition of some white chocolate chips. My mind is racing ahead with many possibilities, and as it does, the combinations are becoming sweeter and less healthy. I think it’s time to make a salad.
Oatmeal Nut Bars with Dried Fruit
1½ cups raisins
1 cup ‘old-fashioned’ rolled oats
1 cup chopped peanuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt (if using unsalted nut butter)
½ cup peanut butter, at room temperature
½ cup maple syrup
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch square glass baking pan.
If raisins are dry and hard, soak by covering with boiling water. Let stand for 10 minutes. Drain.
In a large bowl, combine raisins, oats, peanuts, cinnamon, and salt, if using.
In a medium bowl, beat with electric mixer, or whisk together, the peanut butter, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla until well combined.
Pour over oat mixture, and combine with a wooden spoon until thoroughly mixed.
Transfer to baking pan. Press down firmly and evenly.
Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, until top is lightly browned.
While still warm, cut into squares, but leave squares in pan to cool completely before serving.