Recipe: Fresh Apple Squares (using oats, walnuts, and apple juice concentrate)

FRESH APPLE SQUARES

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup old-fashion oats
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon lemon zest, freshly grated
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons canola oil
1/4 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
2 medium granny smith apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced
1/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a 9 inch square baking pan or coat it with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Work in oil and apple juice concentrate with your fingers until coarse crumbs form.

Firmly press 2 cups of the oat mixture into prepared pan. Arrange apples over crust in three rows.

Mix walnuts into remaining oat mixture. Sprinkle walnut mixture evenly over apples and pat firmly into an even layer.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until top is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a sharp knife. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

Makes 16 squares
Source: Eating Well Magazine, October, 1998