MAY

APPLES and OATS, a great combination!

Grind up Oat Flakes (either Quick Oats or Regular) to make your own nutritious gluten-free oat flour, much simpler and cheaper than stores !

OR substitute chopped/diced rehydrated apple slices for the cranberries in the following recipe, and make your own scrumptious oatmeal bars.

CRANBERRY OATMEAL BARS

CRUST:

4.5 oz (1 cup) all purpose flour

1 cup quick oats

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

6 tablespoons butter, melted

3 tablespoons orange juice

cooking spray

FILLING: 

1 1/3 cups dried cranberries (or diced dried apple)

3/4 cup sour cream

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. 2. To prepare crust, weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through cinnamon) in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Drizzle butter and juice over flour mixture, stirring until moistened (mixture will be crumbly). Reserve 1/2 cup oat mixture. Press remaining oat mixture into the bottom of an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
3. 3. To prepare filling, combine cranberries, sour cream, granulated sugar, and remaining ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring well. Spread cranberry mixture over prepared crust; sprinkle reserved oat mixture evenly over filling. Bake at 325° for 40 minutes or until edges are golden. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
4. Cherry-Oatmeal Bars: Substitute dried cherries for the dried cranberries and lemon rind for the orange rind in filling.