October 25: 10 Minute Cookie Bars

These are quick to make and great to eat! 

10 Minute Cookie Bars

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 4 cups quick cooking oatmeal
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter

1. Melt the butter.
2. Mix the brown sugar and oatmeal in a bowl.
3. Pour butter over sugar and oatmeal and mix.
4. Press oatmeal mix into a 9x13 pan.
5. Bake for 10 minutes in a 400 degree oven.
6. Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter together in a pan on the stove top.
7. Spread over the baked oatmeal.
8. Chill and cut into bars.

From takethemameal.com

October 11: Non-Baking Day -- Bonus Recipe Anyway

Ty didn't feel like baking today, and since I'd just made these bars over the weekend it wasn't crucial that we have more baked goods.  I had all the extra caramel from our caramel apples sitting around, and I wanted to use that.  I found this idea at food.com.  The recipe recommends keeping the bars in the fridge which I didn't do because it hardened the caramel so much.  Sadly, the bars got stale pretty quickly on the counter.  Of course, if I had used the caramel out of the jar like the recipe calls for it probably would've been fine in the fridge.  I did freeze some which helped a bit, but they still went stale quickly on the counter.  Live and learn...

Caramel-Chocolate Oat Bars

• 1 package yellow or white cake mix
• 2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup caramel ice cream topping
• 3 Tbs. flour
• 1 - 16 oz. package chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Set the oven rack to the lowest position.
3. Butter a 9x13 baking pan.
4. For the crust, mix the cake mix, oatmeal, sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
5. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, lemon juice, and egg until well-blended.
6. Add oat mixture, mixing with hands until the mixture barely holds together.
7. Sprinkle 2/3 of mix into the baking pan and press down with your hands to spread evenly.
8. Bake for 5 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts.
10. For the filling, combine the caramel with the flour, blend well.
11. Drizzle caramel mixture over chocolate and nuts.
12. Sprinkle with remaining oat topping and press down slightly.
13. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
14. Let stand to cool until cool enough to place in refrigerator.
15. Slice into squares.

NOTE:  Best served warm when the chocolate and caramel are a little melted. :)  Then it doesn't matter if they're stale!!!

September 27: S'more Bars

This is a family favorite on the Smits side of the family.  If we're together, there's bound to be a batch of S'more bars in the vicinity!  :)  And to be honest, these are better than S'mores!

S'more Bars

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup butter
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 12 oz. package of chocolate chips
• 13 oz. marshmallow creme

1. Combine first 7 ingredients.
2. Spread half of the mixture in a 9x13 pan.
3. Spread marshmallow creme over dough.
4. Sprinkle chocolate chips over marshmallow creme.
5. Crumble remaining dough over the chocolate.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

September 12: Chocolate Chip Bars

There are a million chocolate chip bar recipes floating around, but the addition of M&Ms help this one stand out! :)  Ty thought adding the M&Ms was the best part!  This recipe makes a 10x15 pan so you'll have plenty to go around once you cut into them.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Bars

• 2/3 cup oil (I use Light Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• 3 cups brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1. Combine all ingredients except the chocolate chips in the mixer.
2. Stir in chocolate chips by hand.
3. Pour into a greased 10x15 pan.
4. Sprinkle with M&Ms.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-24 minutes.

February 7: Almond Bars

This is one of our family's favorite treats...I can't believe I haven't posted it before!!!  Easy, quick, and tasty!  Ty and I whipped these up at the suggestion of Seth.  Ty's favorite part?  As usual, licking the beaters!

Almond Bars
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp almond extract
1 cup melted butter
4 eggs
pinch  of salt
Sprinkle sugar (and slivered almonds if desired) on top before baking.

Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 9x13 pan.  Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  It's a simple as that!