Oatmeal Bars

Have you ever noticed all the magazines that nail and hair salons have? I swear I haven't bought a magazine in the longest time since I ask my nail and hair people if I can take home a magazine or two each time I go. It's easy to weed through which ones you would like by the time you get done waiting.

Before I forget.....Congratulations to our winner of the $30 Kroger gift card Pixie!!! Best of luck to everyone who pledged pounds, I hope you all reach your goal! Pixie I've sent you an email, but incase it's lost in the internet somewhere please email me your name and address at crazystar32@gmail.com so I can get the gift card out to you.

This recipe is great to start as a base and add whatever you like. Walnuts, pecans, coconut, cinnamon, keep thinking you can do anything with this. The comments online say it's missing egg in the recipe, but I honestly don't think it needs it, it held together great for me. Since I baked it in the 8x8 pan it came out thick and could have baked a little longer, but I wasn't worried about it because I like my cookies a little gooey and not so crisp. If anything I would cut back on the chocolate chips a little it seemed to be a little much after adding more chocolate on top. You could very easily make cookies instead of making bars it's all up to you, just cut back a little on the baking time. I went a little overboard posting pictures, but they photographed really well and I couldn't pick which ones I liked best.

Oatmeal Bars
(Adapted from Family Circle Magazine)

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup light-brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
2 cups quick oats
1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 8x8x2 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt together.

In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter on medium-high speed until fluffy.

Beat in vanilla.

Reduce speed to low and beat in milk, then flour mixture.

Stir in oats and 1 cup of the chocolate chips.

Spread batter into prepared baking pan.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Microwave remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips for 30 seconds; stir until smooth and drizzle over bars. Cut into squares.