Raisinet Bars and a Birthday Giveaway!

I can't believe I thought I'd have more time when back to school time came around. Last year, I home schooled one of my kids. This year, it was supposed to be two of them, but ended up being all four at the last minute. So yeah, free time is not very high on my list.

So here's a quickie recipe. These bars are so quick and easy, and insanely good. You can use any chocolate covered raisins, like Raisinets, but I like to get the dark chocolate covered raisins from Trader Joe's. These are like a cross between Toll House cookie bars and blondies. Originally found at VeryBestBaking.com. I also like to leave the cinnamon out of these. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to have anything competing with chocolate--I just want the chocolatey goodness to shine. And it does in these. The chocolate gets melty, leaving warm pockets of fudgy deliciousness and sweet raisins. Don't think I don't love cinnamon--I do! just not so much with my chocolate, hehe.

And speaking of raisins, I know some of you won't like these. It's the dried up fruit thing, right? Well they're not so dried up in these bars. They kind of plump up during cooking. Is it the chocolate around them heating up? I don't know for sure, but the results are delicious!



Raisinet Bars

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 package (14 ounces) NESTLÉ RAISINETS Milk Chocolate-Covered Raisins
1 3/4 cups quick or old-fashioned oats, divided



Heat oven to 350° F. Grease an 11 x 7 pan.
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl.
Beat the sugar, butter and vanilla extract in large bowl until creamy.
Beat in the egg.
Gradually add flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture.
Stir in Raisinets and 1 1/2 cups cups oats.
Spread into prepared pan.
Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of oats.
BAKE for 34-38 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.


And now for the giveaway! Tomorrow is my birthday, and since I love you guys and you're so good to me, I want to share the love. I'm giving away a one year subscription to one of my favorite magazines, ever--Saveur. This one will be open to US residents as well as all of you international folks!



All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment and a valid email address where I can find you. I'll pick a random winning entry on September 30th, so that gives you two weeks.

And as always, thanks for reading!