BUTTERSCOTCH BARS

This is a new recipe I tried for my garden club meeting luncheon and I wanted something that was somewhat healthy, the oats, and very little fat. These would be a good breakfast on the run. Next time I may cut the brown sugar back to lighten the amount of sugar. It came out great!

Yield: 36 servings (serving size: 1 bar)
Ingredients

* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 5 tablespoons butter, melted
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 large egg, lightly beaten
* 9 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 cups)
* 2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* Cooking spray
* 3/4 cup fat-free sweetened condensed milk
* 1 1/4 cups butterscotch morsels (about 8 ounces)
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, toasted

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine sugar and butter in a large bowl. Stir in vanilla and egg. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, oats, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and baking soda in a bowl. Add oat mixture to sugar mixture; stir with a fork until combined (mixture will be crumbly). Place 3 cups oat mixture into the bottom of a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with cooking spray; press into bottom of pan. Set aside.
3. Place sweetened condensed milk, butterscotch morsels, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until butterscotch morsels melt, stirring every 20 seconds. Stir in walnuts. Scrape mixture into pan, spreading evenly over crust. Sprinkle evenly with remaining oat mixture, gently pressing into butterscotch mixture. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown. Place pan on a cooling rack; run a knife around outside edge. Cool completely.
Nutritional Information
Calories:148
Fat:5.1g (sat 2.7g,mono 0.9g,poly 1.1g)
Protein:2.6g
Carbohydrate:23.4g
Fiber:0.8g
Cholesterol:11mg
Iron:0.8mg
Sodium:87mg
Calcium:31mg

Kathryn Conrad, Cooking Light, APRIL 2009