Sunday, November 30, 2008

Power bars & other goodies

Okay, I have been a really BAD blogger. National Boards part 2 are coming up in 2 days (please say a prayer for me that I pass, it's okay I can wait... Go ahead...), so that is consuming most of my time and I guess I have put blogging on the back burner. I am enjoying a nice, somewhat relaxing time at home for Thanksgiving break. I am still studying but I don't have to juggle clinic with it so I can blog once again.

A few weeks ago I blogged about a road trip with Erin & Megan, well Julianne & Derrick were going in that direction too, so I put together a big goodie bag for all of us to take on the journey. I made rice crispy treats with dark chocolate M&Ms and some with peanut butter M&Ms, spicy pretzels and power bars (this is a new recipe from a cookbook I got for my birthday).

Power Bars from Famous Name Brand Baking

Ingredients
3/4 cup butter or margarine
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling, I used tart cherries without any sugar syrup but just water.
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

  • Beat butter and brown sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Combine flour, oats and baking soda. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; mix on low speed until crumbly.
  • Spread two-thirds of oat mixture into bottom of ungreased 13×9×2-inch baking pan. Press down to form crust. Process cherry filling in food processor or blender until smooth. Pour into medium saucepan. Combine granulated 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 oat layer; spread evenly. Top with remaining oat mixture. I used 2 cans of 14.5-oz cherry filing so I did 2 layers.
  • Bake in preheated 325°F oven 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool before cutting. Yummy little power bars in muffin cups to make it easier to eat

6 comments:

Carl & Rosemarie Brauning said...

Yummy! The power bars look delicious! I will have to try this recipe out! Did they give you lots of energy? I heard that they were changing the way the board tests were being taken, I will say many prayers, but I am positive you re ready! It's hard work but they eyeball is so fascinating!

Christie's Endless Craze said...

I am not sure if they gave me any more energy but I didn't feel as guilty eating them. NBEO part 2 is the same, they have just changed part 1 (or so I have been told) and I passed that already. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Laura said...

GOOD LUCK with your test! You know I'll be thinking of you :)

The food looks good. Have you tried anything out of the cookbook we got you?

Christie's Endless Craze said...

This is from the cookbook you got me and all recipes have been easy & delish! Thanks!

Jules said...

Each treat really hit the spot on the road - Christie is too sweet. Derrick and I didn't even stop for dinner, we just pretzel/power bar/rice krispied our way through Arkansas! I couldn't choose my favorite of the 3 though. The bags were an ADORABLE way to present the goodies. Thanks again, Christie. Can't wait to see you tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

Good luck, Miss Christie or should I say...Dr. Heptig!!