Fruit Preserve Oatmeal Bars

It's March!  And it's been 2 weeks since I last posted...  But I'm here, posting today, for you!  Please forgive me...  I feel like this is a common beginning to a post lately.  I should change that.  :)

Alright, so, about a month ago now I posted about this amazing granola that's like the best thing ever.  Well, I haven't been making any lately.  Which means I haven't made any granola bars lately either.  I've been rather busy with school, work, and interning.  However, I have this super simple recipe that has minimal ingredients that makes amazing bars!  I think my favorite part is that it is somewhat minimal on sugars and you can substitute any kind of fruit preserves you're feeling that day.

Ingredients:

• 7/8 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
• This is equal to 1-3/4 stick butter
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• I used old fashioned but you can use either old fashioned or quick
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• See picture below for a funny side note
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 jar (10-12oz) fruit preserves of your choice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F
2. Butter/grease a 9x13 or 8x8 pan
3. Mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt
4. Cut in the butter until it resembles corse crumbs
1. I used my food processor, like I always do
5. Sprinkle half of the mixture into the prepared pan and pat lightly to pack
6. Spoon preserves evenly over the surface
7. Use a butter knife to carefully spread around the surface
8. Sprinkle the other half of the mixture and pat again
9. Bake until golden brown, about 30-40 minutes
10. Remove and let cool in pan
11. Once cooled, cut into squares
12. Store in air tight container

So, first I would like to start with a little story:

I have 2 sets of measuring cups.  I have a set that my grandma gave me that are silicone and metal - very durable and excellent.  I also have a set that's a black plastic.  Their good for liquids since they have a flat bottom, but that's about it.  Well, I used the black plastic 1/2 cup scoop to measure out my brown sugar.....  Yeah, I snapped the handle off.  Oh, did I mention that I already broke the handle off the 1 cup scoop before we were even married!?!  I've decided it's time to buy a new set.  You can never have enough measuring cups...  Reminder family, my birthday is in 3.5 months! ;)

Anyway.  Back to the bars.  Ah-mazing!  I made them with strawberry preserves this time, but I think I want to make them with a triple berry or raspberry.  Or maybe peach?!  Ugh, these are seriously amazing!  Go make them, they were so easy and fast!  :)

Pre-Cutting