Recipe: Power Bars (using oats and cherry pie filling)

POWER BARS

3/4 cup margarine
2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats, uncooked
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Put butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed 3 to 4 minutes, or until well mixed.

Combine flour, oats and baking soda. Add to sugar mixture; beat on low speed until crumbly.

Spread two-thirds of the oats mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Press down to make a firm layer; set aside.

Put cherry filling in an electric blender or food processor container; puree until smooth. Pour pureed cherry filling into a medium saucepan.

Combine white sugar and cornstarch; stir into cherry filling. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in almond extract.

Pour cherry mixture over oats layer, spread evenly. Top with remaining oats mixture.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool before cutting into bars.

Makes 32 bars
Source: Cherry Marketing Institute