Recipe: Apple Oatmeal Bars

Mmmm, this seasonal dessert would be simply divine à la mode or with a little cheddar. I'm also betting that it is probably tasty enough to stand alone. Whatever your preference, this wholesome recipe from Laura is what I call comfort food - perfect for this time of year!

Since I know everyone has a surplus of apples this time of year, I thought it would be a good time to share one of my favourite apple-containing recipes. :)

I make this recipe for apple oatmeal bars quite often, since Chris likes to take them in his lunch, and because they're easy and economical. The original recipe (which I have altered a wee bit) came from a neat book I have called Stories and Recipes of the Great Depression of the 1930s. This book is out of print now, but if you can find a used copy it's a nice to have. Compiled by an eldery lady in Wisconsin in the 1980s, the old-time inexpensive recipes are interspersed with the stories that folks shared with her about how they coped in the 1930s.

These squares taste a bit like apple pie, because there isn't any sugar in the crust. They're crumbly, so you need to eat them with a fork.

Apple Oatmeal Bars

Mix in a bowl:
1 cup oats (quick or old fashioned will work)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter + 2 tbsp, melted
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Pat half of this into an 8 X 10 or an 8 X 8 pan. If it seems too dry, add a bit more butter.

Mix in a bowl:
2 1/2 cups finely chopped or grated apples
1/2 cup sugar (I use brown sugar)

Spread this mixture over the bottom crust. Top with remaining oatmeal mixture and pat down gently. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

If you think this recipe looks appealing, you will be equally delighted by the lovingly handmade wooden toys for babies, toddlers and children to be found at the The Wood Garden (a venture Laura shares with her husband Chris). Laura and Chris say: "We are proud to be creating quality handmade toys right here in Canada, using environmentally friendly materials, as opposed to plastic toys mass-produced overseas. We are trying to provide a different kind of choice than what you'd find in a big-box store."