Oatmeal Bar War: Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Battle number 2.  Another attempt at gaining a foothold in the oatmeal bar business.  Not that I am going to sell them.  Just that I want to make them and eat them.  Either way, this is not something an obsesive compulsive like me should really go into.  Baking can be such a torture.  Sometimes.
Origin:  http://www.allrecipes.com/
Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cup quick cookign oats
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup melter butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup stawberry preserves
• 1/2 cup coconut flake

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.
3. Add in butter and vanilla and stir until crumbly.
4. Set aside 1 cup.
5. Press remaining crumb mixture into a 13x9" baking pan. 
6. Spread preserves over crust.
7. Combine coconut flake with reserved crumb mixture and sprinkle over preserves.
8. Bake for 30min.

Okay, so the bastards that posted this on http://www.allrecipes.com/ had instrustions that read, "In a bowl, combine all dry ingrediats."  I took this to include the coconut flake as well.  I was wrong because as I was following the directions I got the part listed as number 6.  Sure I should have read the directions first but where is the fun and adventure in that.  Either way, I like it my way.  So get rid fo number 6 and add the coconut to number 2 and all will be fantastic.  Also, Strawberry jam work just as well as preserves.
Overall, another hit on the recipe front.  This absolutly makes the book.

Oatmeal Bars War: Cranberry Oatmeal Bars

Okay, so I was at this 5k race which I was neither running or volunteering for which is weird.  Actually, it was Rae's second 5k and I was there as an Athletic Supporter.  And they had these oatmeal bars there for post race refreshments.  They were deliscious and I promptl stole a bunch for later runs/work outs.  The thing is oatmeal bars can be a real good source of energy for both recovery and refueling during a long work out.  With that being said I decided to go out and try and make some oatmeal bars for future use. 

 

Source:  http://www.allrecipes.com/

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin spice
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 3/4 cup pecans
• 3/4 cup old-fasioned rolled oats

Directions

1. Preheat oven toe 350F and lightly grease 11"x7" baking pan
2. Pour melted btter into mixing bowl with egg, brown sugar and vanilla extract and beat.
3. Stir in baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice and flour until throughtly blended. 
4. Mix in cranberries, pecans and oates till blended evenly.
5. Bake in over for 15 minutes.
6. Cool before cutting into squares.

This recipe is written a little over complicated but is really very easy.  The actual instructions talk about sifting powders together but I say just add the small quantity stuff in to make sure it gets toroughly mixed and then add the flour.  It works the same.  The other thing is I own no pumpkin spice so that was left out and more cinimon was added.  I am not sure what old-fashioned rolled oats are but I used quick cut oats and the bars were fantastic. 
One last thing to note.  Wait till they are cool to cut.  If not it like eating warm oatmeal goo.  Sure it tastes great but nothing that will resemble a bar will come out of it and it will most likely fall on the floor. 
Overall, a great recipe and will definately make the book.