Blueberry Oatmeal Bars

These things are absolutely divine! I could eat them every morning... and for every snack.... And the best part is, they are full of spinach and you can't even taste it! The key to success for these bars is to let them cool completely before serving so that any taste of spinach has a chance to disappear completely.

John and Braxton also enjoy these, although I don't think quite as much as I do! :)

Blueberry Oatmeal Bars
(with spinach)

Nonstick cooking spray
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 c butter or margarine, chilled
1 cup sugar-free blueberry preserves
1/2 cup spinach puree


1. Preheat oven to 375. Coat an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and vanilla. Mix well.
3. Add the margarine and cut it quickly into the dry ingredients with two knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal and is no longer powdery. Do not over mix - bits of margarine should still be visible.
4. Press about half of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the baking pan. Set aside the rest for the topping. Bake about 13 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned at the edges - but not fully baked.
5. In a small bowl, mix the preserves with the spinach puree. Spread the blueberry mixture over the partially baked oat layer, then sprinkle the remaining oat mixture on top.
6. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until the topping is slightly browned. Set the pan on a rack to cool completely before cutting.

Yield: 12 bars

This recipe comes from the cookbook, Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld.