Homemade Nutri-Grain bars

One of the perks of being chair of the Developmental Committee is that I get to choose the snacks we have at our meetings! Humor me, please. If I'm going to put hours of work in to be one step ahead of all the committee members, I deserve some relaxing time to try a new recipe. And to be honest, I love being able to share a new recipe with a group of people. Ross an I can eat a batch of baked goods in about 3 days without thinking twice.

Today, I introduce to you Homemade Nutri-Grain Bars. I cannot claim this amazing recipe... I found it here. Don't let the name fool you though-- this is not exactly a health food. The recipe is very buttery. It did occur to me that I could replace the butter with peanut butter and make PBJ bars, but I have to follow a recipe perfectly once before I try to alter it.

The most exciting ingredient was the local jam I used! I bought a jar of strawberry-rhubarb preserves when we went to Jamesport with Ross' parents and this was the perfect recipe for it.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup cold salted butter
1.5 cups flour
1.5 cups oatmeal
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup jam

Mix all ingredients (except jam) together, adding cold butter last and forming crumbs. Press a little over half the crumb mixture into a buttered 9×13 pan and spread jam on top.  Leave a half inch “no jam” edge so that it doesn’t run out the sides!  Top with remaining crumbs and press lightly into jam.  Bake at 350* for 45 minutes.  Cool and cut into 16 bars.

Next time, I may sprinkle some crushed walnuts on top for crunch. So easy to make and so delicious!