Karen Buckley's $50 Winner Cranberry Date Bars

 Boy, do I have some very talented bakers and cooks in my friend group. Who share their food, treats...and the recipes to make them myself. Though I don't know if I can recreate this as well as Karen. The recipe is dated 1987. Karen didn't win $50...but these definitely deserve a blue ribbon! Thanks, Karen!!

Cranberry Date Bars

1 12 ounce package of cranberries

1 8 ounce package of chopped and pitted dates

1 teaspoon vanilla

***

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup of margarine or butte, melted

1 recipe Orange Glaze

For filing, in a medium saucepan combine cranberries and dates. Cook, covered, over low heat for 10-15 minutes or until cranberries pop, stirring frequently. Stir in Vanilla. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in margarine or butter until well blended. Pat half of the oat mixture in the 9x13. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Carefully spread filling over baked oat mixture. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture on top. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack. Drizzle with Orange Glaze and cut into bars. Makes 32 bars.

Orange Glaze:

In a medium mixing bow, stir together 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and enough orange juice (2-3 tablespoons) to make a drizzling consistency.  (3/4 cup).

Adelle's Orange & Almond Granola

 I'm making this for the first time as I type this up.  It smells so fresh. Even raw it tastes refreshing!  Thanks for sharing this recipe with me, Sis. Barrett!  xoxo

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons orange zest (from about 1 1/2 oranges, preferably organic)

2 tablespoons sugar

4 c old fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 c raw almonds

1 teaspoon fine sea salt (3/4 tsp if you use table salt)

1 taspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil or melted coconut oil

1/2 cup honey or maple syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3/4 c raisins, preferably golden

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a small bowl, combine the orange zest and sugar. Use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar until it's bright orange and very fragrant. This step will ensure that your granola is infused with orange flavor.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, almonds, salt, cinnamon, and orange sugar. Stir to combine. Pour in the olive oil, honey and vanilla and mix well.

4.  Pour the granola onto your prepared baking sheet. Spread the granola intoan even layer. Bake for 19-23 minutes, stirring half way, until the granola is turning lightly golden in color. The granola will crisp up as it cools.

5.  Let the granola cool before stirring in the raisin sand breaking up the granola into chunks as necessary. Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks, or keep in the freezer for longer shelf life.

**I used melted coconut oil b/c it's so yummy. I think I'll be using craisins too.