Monday, September 21, 2009

Monday's Mothering Moment


Blueberry Oatmeal Bars (with Spinach)

Blueberry Oatmeal Bars (with Spinach)
Crunchy and sweet, but full of spinach! Let the bars cool completely before serving so that the taste of the spinach has a chance to disappear completely.

Ingredients:
Makes 12 bars

  •     Nonstick cooking spray
  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup Balance trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread , chilled
  • 1 cup low-sugar blueberry preserves
  • 1/2 cup spinach puree
Preheat oven to 375°. Coat an 8" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and vanilla and stir to mix well.

Add the margarine and cut it quickly into dry ingredients with two knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal and is no longer powdery. Do not overmix—bits of margarine will still be visible.

Set aside about half of the oat mixture; press the rest firmly into the pan. Bake until lightly browned at the edges (but not fully baked), 13 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the preserves with the spinach puree in a small bowl.

Spread blueberry mixture over the partially baked oat layer, then sprinkle with reserved oat mixture. Bake until topping is slightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the pan on a rack to cool completely before cutting into 12 bars. 

From the book 
Deceptively DeliciousSM

The Testers for Week 1:  Deceptively Delicious
The William's Family (Chris, Kate, and Max)
Ease of Recipe:  I would give this a 4 out of 5.  The recipe was easy except for the pureeing of the spinach.  I was also surprised at how 1 bag of spinach did not make very much puree.
Adult Rating:  I would give this a 3 out of 5.  The bars did not taste too bad.  You really could not taste the spinach.  However, I did not like the texture that came along with the spinach being included (slimy).
Child Rating:  4 out of 5.  My son did not seem to mind the texture!
Additional Comments:  I will not give up on this cookbook!  I have heard too many good comments on some of the other recipes.  I would probably not make this recipe again in the future.

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