Fruity Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

3 cups quick-cooking oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon cloves

2 cups chopped mixed dried fruits (apricots, dates, raisins, etc.)

½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

1½ cups apple butter (available in the jam section of supermarkets)

8 teaspoons Benefiber^®*

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Mix the oats, cinnamon and cloves in a large bowl. Stir in the dried fruits and nuts.

Combine the apple butter and the Benefiber and stir well. Stir the apple butter mixture into the oats and fruits, and mix with a large spoon or your hands until all the ingredients are well blended and the oats are moistened with the apple butter.

Spread the mixture into an 8 inch by 13 inch nonstick pan and pat it down so you have an even layer covering the pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until very lightly browned. (Do not overcook!)

Immediately cut into 2 inch squares but do not try to remove from the pan. Allow the bars to cool, then go over the cuts with a knife again. Remove the bars from the pan with a small spatula and store in a closed container. They're even better on the second day.

Yield: 24 2 inch bars

Nutritional Information per serving

With Benefiber

*Read product label before recipe preparation.