CHERRY DESSERT

1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup oats
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 tbsp. butter or margarine, sliced
4 cups (2 cans) sour cherries, drained (save juice for sauce)
1/4 cup white sugar
CHERRY SAUCE:
1 cup white sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
2 cups cherry juice (add water if needed to make 2 cups)
4 tbsp. butter or margarine
2 tsp. vanilla or almond flavoring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan.

Sift flour with salt and baking soda. Add brown sugar. Mix in oats and cut in 1/2 cup butter until crumbly. Spread half of the crumb mixture in the prepared pan. Dot with 2 tbsp. sliced butter and add cherries. Sprinkle 1/4 cup white sugar over cherries. Put remaining crumbs on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Serve with Cherry Sauce (below). Use remainder as cut bar cookies.

CHERRY SAUCE:
Mix 1 cup sugar and cornstarch. Add cherry juice and mix thoroughly. Boil 5 minutes over moderate heat.

Add margarine and flavoring. Serve over Cherry Dessert.