Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Sweet and Wholesome Indulgences as Thank You! Updated...

Warning!!!! This entire week is going to be exceedingly sweet and indulgent because I have many thanks to give...in the past few months, I have been receiving many Awards from my wonderful fellow bloggers that I have not yet accepted...I could not think of appropriate dishes to offer as treats and thanks to my fellow bloggers...now...I think I do!!! So, here we go...I warn you that the next few posts may be exceedingly sweet!!! I have always been addicted to cacao...look at my posts for molten chocolate lava cake or chocolatey nutella cookies... so what else but chocolate comes to my mind, when I pick treats to share with my blogger pals!!!

But, you know it...always wholesome with healthful elements...like these beautiful yet truly non-fat energy bars/squares!!! After trying these, I might totally avoid the store-bought energy and nut bars...Oh by the way,  dont say I didnt warn you - these are extrrrrremely addictive.
Recipe for Chocolatey Fruit and Oat Squares :
Servings: 16 pieces(could vary depending on prefered size of bars)

Prep time: 15-20 mins
Cook time: 35-40 mins
Ingredients:
1/3 cup rolled oats(I used the old-fashioned kind)
1/3 cup (45 grams) all purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 cup crushed nuts(pistachio, walnut, pecans, hazelnuts, and/or almonds)
1 cup dried fruits- apricots/cherries/cranberries/dates/figs and/or prunes (pits
removed and cut into quarters)...I used a mixture of dried fruits
1/2 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate (I used Nestle's choc morsels)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Method:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) and place the rack in the center of the oven. Have ready an 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) square baking pan that has been lined across the bottom and up the two opposite sides with aluminum foil. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder  and salt. Stir in the brown sugar, walnuts, chocolate and dried fruit.

Use your fingers to make sure that all the fruit and nuts have been coated with the oats/flour mixture.

In a separate bowl, beat (with a wire whisk or hand mixer) the egg and vanilla until light colored and thick (this will take a couple of  minutes).

Add the egg mixture to the fruit and nut mixture and mix until all the fruit and nut pieces are coated with the batter. Spread into the prepared pan, pressing to even it out.

Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until the batter is golden brown and has pulled away from the sides of the pan. You could drizzle some melted chocolate over the bar and then let cool.

When cooled, lift the bar from the pan by the edges of the aluminum foil. Use a sharp knife to cut into 16 squares.

Can be stored for about 10 days at room temperature or longer if refrigerated. Makes about 16  squares.

Now, coming to my beautiful Awards: Here are some wonderful awards from some of my greaaaat blogger pals: Priya of Priya's Recipes, Nisha of Nisha's KitchenJay of Tasty Appetite and Priya Mitharwal of Mharo Rajasthan...A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THESE WONDERFUL BLOGGERS...YOU MADE MY DAY!!!

Update: Let me also mention that these awards were also showered on me by Jyoti of Panchpakwan, whose blog features not only recipes from all over the world...but specially, recipes from Karnataka and Maharashtra regions of India.

I would like to share these awards with all my blogger friends...I appreciate all of you and the wonderful efforts you put in every day TO MAKE & PRESENT the most awesome food...do feel free to accept these awards!!!

THERE ARE MORE AWARDS TO COME...MORE LATER!!!

As part of the rules for these awards I need to mention 5 of my favorite posts...which I will, in the next post...

26 comments:

  1. Beautiful squares Meena, truly delectable and prefect..

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  2. Looks soo beautiful and delicious.. thanks for sharing dear!!

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  3. Congrats on ur awards and that sure was an amazing way of celebrating it with oats and fruits squares.

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  4. Hy Meena,

    Congrats on your well deserved awards and I wish u many more.
    Yeah...! as you warned... its extremely tempting n delicious too. Pass me some dear...

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  5. congrats on all ur awards, dear...tempting and awesome recipes

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  6. Congrats on all ur awards Meena,, sweet looks soo yummy n ingredients sounds great dear.

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  7. Congarts on Awards Meeana..
    I too had shared the same awards with you dear..do chechout my blog..

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  8. Delicious squares ,would like to grab them right away.Kewl combo .Congrats on the awards.

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  9. The bars look awesome Meena....healthy and delicious ones...I have bookmarked this :)

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  10. Congrats on all your awards dear... I am a big time chocolate freak and love anything with choco:) lovely recipe by the way:)

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  11. Congrats on your awards Meena. Love the squares :)

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  12. Meena,

    Chocolate oatmeal squares looks really yummy. Congrats on your awards

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  13. Congrats on all your awards Meena!! And those are really tempting chocolatey squares..

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  14. Yumm squares ! Congrats on your awards !!

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  15. Hi Meena

    Even If you warn me against such wonderfully yummy dishes, I would love to indulge in the squares. Very Well Made.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  16. Hi Meena,

    Thank you so much for accepting awards and updating the same..

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  17. Those squares sound really good! Yum!

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  18. That looks lovely meena,would love to try it...and congrats on all your awards..

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  19. Sweet and indulgent suits me just fine! Especially when they involve these delicious fruit and nut bars. Mmmm...

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  20. Nice recipe...looks tempting and delicious.

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  21. Congrats on all your Awards Meena... Sweet cubes looks delicious.

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  22. Congrats on all ur awards dear...this is gud way to celebrate :)

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  23. Congrats on ur awards and perfect reason to bring or eat sweets!

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  24. hey thanks for dropping by at my blog...:)
    sqaures are really tempting...
    Following you dear.

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