Recipe: Fresh Pear Squares

FRESH PEAR SQUARES

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup uncooked old-fashioned oats
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel
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 frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
2 large ripe, firm pears, peeled,
cored and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1/4 cup coarsely chopped toasted walnuts

Lightly spray or oil a 9-inch square baking dish.

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

Firmly press 2 cups oat mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Arrange pear slices evenly on top.

Mix walnuts into remaining oat mixture and sprinkle over pears. Pat mixture firmly into an even layer.

Bake in preheated 350-degree oven 30 to 35 minutes or until top is golden brown and pears are tender. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

Makes 16 squares
Adapted from source: Eating Well magazine