A Happy Hubby via Oatmeal Bars

Yeah! I finally got to the store and was able to make my Oatmeal Bars. My husband was very disappinted when I mentioned making them previously and we were out of oatmeal... I will have a happy hubby this evening!

While making them I did realize I did not have raisins, so I substiuted crasins instead. They are still delicious.

 

(work in progress)

I love the way this recipe smells when it is baking and cooling. My whole house just feels warm and inviting.... Of course the worst part is when they are cooling on the counter. I have learned from past attempts to be sure to let them cool fully, as otherwise they do not cut as nicely and you end up with lots of crumbs... which by the way is excellent on top of vanilla ice cream....

(cooling on the counter... oh the anticipation!)

The original recipe for these oatmeal bars is listed under my previous post of "Cathi's Oatmeal Bars"



When does Grapefruit become Kiwi?

Yesterday I opted to attempt my 1st Grapefruit bar recipe. I did not have any grapefruit in the house, so I opted to make a Kiwi bar instead. I tried it out on some unsuspecting friends and received very good reviews and a couple suggestions will make it into the recipe. Once I get it finalized I will happily share it with you.

So you now know when a grapefruit becomes a kiwi... I'm impromptu all the way!.... I also picked up some grapefruit so I am ready to go with the next undertaking in my kitchen.....

Grapefruit bars

I love lemon bars. There is something about that tangy filling with the buttery crust which makes it a perfect cokie to me. I have seen recipes for lime bars as well. I have not tried to make them, but it did get me thinking.....what other citrus could be used in this type of recipe? Grapefruit came to mind.... I was thinking Rubt Red grapefruit would be ideal. I think my next endeavor will be to make a basic recipe for a citrus bar.... Grapefruit, clementine, cuties, lime, and of course good ol' lemon......I bet we could even go further.....Maybe even persimmon, kiwi, pineapple...... Boy my brain is getting geared up.

Well it was a good idea....

I was thinking, boy you know what would make my posts even better.... Photos!
I was planning on making the Oatmeal Squares tonight, and snapping photos along the way... Alas, you can substitute somethings, but you can not substitute the main ingredient... Ironically there is NO oatmeal in my house!    Oh sigh..... I guess I will have to await using this brilliant idea until I can get to the store to purchase enough oats to make these delicious cookie bars...........

Cathi's Oatmeal Squares

As I finally sit down after a long day, including an overly active and noisy Birthday party for a daughters friend, I am now ready to blog.... is that the right term to use here? Blog, discuss, ramble, share, send random thoughts out into the netherworld.... You get the idea.

So, I have been thinking about my premier recipe to share with everyone and decided quickly on my Oatmeal Squares. 
This was the 1st recipe I created, and  I did so for my step mother. She is lactose intolerant and I wanted to come up with a yummy dessert for one of the 1st times they came to dinner when we moved back to good old'Bingo....
After perfecting the 1st recipe, I also branched it out to have other variations... hence the impromptu portion... depending on what was in the cupboard or what craving the day brought on, I now have 5 more versions available.... Tonight I will share with you the original recipe (NOTE: Items hightlighted in BLUE are the base ingredients):

Cathi's Oatmeal Squares
2 c butter flavored shortening
2 c sugar
4 eggs  (or 1 c applesauce if you want to make it vegan)
2 1/2 c flour
2 3/4 c quick oats
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 c raisins
1 c diced dried apricots
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice

1. Cream the shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
2. Mix the dry ingredients together then slowly add to the wet mixture.
3. Add the dried fruit
4. Spread on a ungreased bar pan (10x15 cookie sheet with sides) I love my pampered chef large stoneware bar pan for this
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 min
6. Cool  on the bar pan and cut into squares and enjoy!

NOTE: I have snuck flax seed into this recipe as well with out my family knowing they were getting extra goodness... just decrease the flour to 2 1/4 and add a 1/4 c ground flax seed... just enough with out them knowing it's there...

I have shared this recipe with many co-workers. They have impressed me by actually making them and told me how good they are. I have made this so often in my own home, that I am ashamed at the condition of my recipe page.. dollop of  shortening here, a vanilla stain there... maybe I should print out a new copy... Nahhh this one has character.

So please let me know if you attempt this recipe and what you think of it.... I think I will have to make a batch tomorrow... I seem to have a craving for them... Hmmm wonder why? I will post of a photo of them when I make them, if I can get one taken before they are all devoured.

Side thought: How many times do you think it is ok to read and re-read the blog you are about to post, before actually doing it?  I am sure there will by typos etc... as I am not an English major - lord knows very far from it. ... Ok here it goes....

Here we go....

I am one of those types of self-made cooks who will look at a recipe once and create my own version.  Not everyone has a beautifully stocked pantry as we are told we should, and we need to make substiutions... that is the premise for my basic cooking abilities.

I like to mix and match, trade in & out and create each time I cook.  I began doing this a long time ago.... my poor husband has had many creations (good and bad) which will never be made again because I was not writing them down.  So I started to jot down these created recipes in a small notebook (see below) when they were given the approval of my family and friends.... One day I hope to publish The Impromptu Cook.

But for now, I will share my recipes, gardening ideas, and heck just random ramblings with you here until that time....

Thank you for reading my blog.... Cathi