Tasty Tuesday: Fruit Bars

It seems like it's that time of year again when you are required to make something for a bake sale or provide a snack for the baseball team. Next time you are wondering what to make, try these fruit bars for a new twist on an old favorite. Its a basic shortbread with jam topping. Easy to make! Recipe and photo provided by Kathryn Michalik.

Ingredients:
2 1/4 c flour
1 c old fashioned oats (NOT instant...)
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp baking SODA
1 tsp salt
1 cold egg
1 1/2 sticks ICE COLD BUTTER, unsalted
1tsp vanilla
1 c Red Barn jam

Preheat oven to 350*

Mix flour, oats, sugar, baking soda and salt until well combined. Then pulse in (you can do this by hand or food processor) diced butter until its crumbly (size of peas). Lightly beat egg and add vanilla then pulse until combined.

Place 2/3 of mixture into a 8x8 or9x9 pan that is lined with foil and sprayed with Pam. Press down into a crust. Top with 1 cup of any Red Barn jam that you want (Apricot and Raspberry are our favorites for this recipe). Spread into an even layer, then top with rest of the crumbly mixture.

Bake 35-40 minutes, you will smell oats by the time it's done. Take out and allow to cool 2 hours before removing. Then carefully remove foil. Cut into 16 squares and enjoy!

To cut:
Cut in half, then cut each half in half again to make 4 cuts across, then turn 90 degrees and do the other side so you get 16 even bars.