Stratman recipe: Raspberry Oat Bars

Ingredients
¾ cup butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 ½ cups rolled oats
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking power
1 jar (10 ounces) raspberry preserves

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Grease a 9×13 inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until smooth. Combine oats, flour, salt and baking powder; stir into the creamed mixture. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the preserves over the crust. Crumble the remaining crust mixture over the raspberry layer.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until light brown. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

ABOUT THE BAKER

Karen Stratman
Occupation: Owner/baker of J.A.M.E.S. Home Baked Good
Hometown: Wickliffe, Ohio
Family: Spouse Joe; children Ashley, Joey, Michelle, Eddie
Why this recipe: It’s healthy and dairy-free, and I receive lots of request for it.
Favorite chef: Gordon Ramsey
Cooking background: Self-taught from cookbooks, trial-and-error of new recipes and family recipes

This story was published in the Fall Edition of InMaricopa the Magazine.