Fruity Oaty Bars

A friend of ours in the vampire campaign my husband is running has started a new diet called the GI diet or Glycemic Index diet. Makes me do a happy dance really since cooking for one vegetarian player and one Atkins diet player was proving troublesome. This is so much easier. So, I have learned they can eat whole grains, fruit, splenda and even low fat margarine. So easy! This week I made fruit bars…I originally called them fruit squares since they are based off my pumpkin squares recipe but it was pointed out that their rectangle nature made them dubious geometric characters if I called them that. These are nummy slightly tart treats that win with my diet choices too so hurray whole table is happy. The fibre in these makes me especially happy. Granted a certain player at the table could have gone with less fibre…you know who you are…Kaylee is still scarred from the experience. Bad Mustafa, bad. When I was thinking of what to name these I laughed so hard. They are fruity…they are oaty…and Kaylee was traumatized…what other name will do?

• 2 cups frozen mixed berries of choice (mine contained blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries)
• 1/2 cup splenda
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup light margarine (you can sub with 1/4 cup egg whites for those who want to avoid margarine, it is harder to work with to make it crumbly though)
• 1/4 tsp baking soda

1. Combine the oats, flour, splenda and baking soda in a bowl. Add the margarine, using a fork blend until it is moist but crumbly.
2. Defrost and cook the berries over medium low heat. If you want to thicken them add a tablespoon or two of whole wheat flour. If you like a sweeter filling add a bit of sweetener of your choice. Once the filling forms a good amount of sauce remove from heat.
3. Place 3/4 of the oat mixture into a 9×9 glass pan. Press into the pan firmly to cover the bottom and form the crust.
4. Pour the berry mixture on top of the crust and top with the remaining oat mixture.
5. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes. Cool, cut into 18 bars and serve.

Makes 18 servings. Each serving contains 62 calories, 1.6 grams of fat and 1.8 grams of fibre. Let them blow your mind! Hehehe. Would this qualify as a hardcore firefly recipe then?