A Recipe for Springtime : Strawberry-Rhubarb Oatmeal Squares

I'm so excited !

 The rhubarb I planted last year has sprung from the ground and is showing me several large leaves and stalks. 

Another week or two and we'll be eating some rhubarb-y goodness from our own patch!!

And our strawberries (this is year 3 for them) are green and lush too, and already showing the possibility of blossoms. 

Inspired, I baked a new recipe today using both strawberries and rhubarb.  The berries were from the grocery store, but the rhubarb was fresh from my mother's friend's garden. 

The "Strawberry-Rhubarb Oatmeal Squares" were a hit in my house. A whole 9x9 pan was gone within hours of baking!!

Here's the recipe:

Base and topping:

1 cup flour

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup melted butter

Filling:

2 eggs

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2  1/2 cups chopped rhubarb/strawberries

1. In large bowl, combine flour, oats and brown sugar.

2. Stir in butter until blended.

3. Set aside 3/4 cup to use as topping.

4. Press remaining mixture firmly into bottom of 9x9 baking pan.  

5.  Bake at 350 degrees F (180 C) for 10 minutes.

To make Filling:  

6. In bowl, beat together eggs, sugar, flour and cinnamon until smooth.

7.  Stir in mixed fruit.

8. Spread over baked base.

9.  Sprinkle remaining oatmeal mixture over  top of the filling.

10.  Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F or until lightly browned.

11.  Cool completely before cutting.

12.  Enjoy every morsel (the picture below shows my hubby doing this!)

Please give this recipe a try and let me know how it works out!!

I might try it again new weekend using a different fruit combination.

  Maybe peaches and strawberries.......Mmmmm......

Before I sign off, I want to show you some pictures from the Spring Sprint that benefits the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.  

My son told you his story HERE

and he asked for you sponsorship. So many of you responded with love and our team was able to raise over $2500!!

Here are some pics of the event:

Our team consisted of our family of five, Nana, Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Joel.  All three aunts (Steph, Meg and Amy) were there in spirit, too.

Bryn ran 3 loops around the course (2.5 km) trying his best to keep up with speedy Uncle Joel.  

I managed to get weepy only once.  Bryn stood amongst the other brain tumour survivors for the photo  above (bottom left) and I was overcome.  Why did my little boy have to go through this? 

 One of the older men in the photo joked, "Hey you, little guy! You're too young to have gone through this!"

He was right.  My boy is/was too young.

But thankfully, he pulled through with flying colours.  

Look at him! Young and vibrant and healthy.

So....we're going to run in events like this for years to come in order  to help all those patients whose stories didn't work out quite as well.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Count your blessings, 

Love, Bronwyn