Lip-Smacking Berry Bars

            We’re in the midst of a deep-freeze here in northern Texas. The temperature is in the teens during the day and single digits at night. It’s almost like being back in Chicago! Of course, the difference is, they’ve got snow back there while we have ice here in Texas (and a slight dusting of snow). Not only that, they have road salt. Here in Dallas, apparently there is no road salt. Everyone’s just staying home and waiting for the temperatures to get above freezing so the ice will melt.

            Unable to go anywhere, I’ve been trying to make good use of the time at home and doing lots of baking for our Super Bowl party. One of the things I made today was a batch of berry bars. They’re simple to make, and freeze up really well. I’ll just pull these out of the freezer Sunday morning and arrange them on a serving tray a couple hours before I serve them.

            Here’s the recipe, in case you’d like to make some yourself.

Berry Bars

¾ cup butter

1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

1 ½ cups white flour

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. baking soda

1 ½ cups quick-cooking oatmeal

1 12-ounce jar raspberry or blackberry jam

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. In a bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda. Stir into the creamed mixture. When well-mixed, stir in oatmeal. Press half the mixture into a greased 13 by 9 inch baking pan. Spread jam on top and cover with the remaining oatmeal mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool before cutting into bars.