Recipes from Forgotten Bookmarks: Johnny Appleseed Bars

Are you like me and secretly delighted when you find objects tucked into the pages of your library books? I've found things like train schedules, bookmarks, empty gum wrappers, and library patron receipts. My favorite was a really lovely poem that I've had embroidered to hang over my bed.

I know I've not the only one fascinated by what people leave behind in books. I remember spending a whole evening of one of my Library Science classes talking about this. We talked about what was cute, how sad some things were, and then the subject turned to the disgusting. (There's the archetypal story of the raw piece of bacon.) Beyond the classroom, many a listserv conversation explored the lost and left behind in the library books. Now a days, there are also many a blog dedicated to this subject.

It's not just librarians who find things in books. Used booksellers have their own tales to tell. One of them, Michael, has started a blog called Forgotten Bookmarks.

I was browsing the blog one day recently. My thoughts had turned to baking, as a hint of fall was in the air. I was also in an adventuresome mood, ready to take a safe risk ... so when I saw this recipe, I decided to take a chance on ...

Johnny Appleseed Bars

1 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 c oats
2/3 c brown sugar (packed)
1/2 c oil
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together and press half of dough in 9" square pan [I used a 8x8 pan]

Sprinkle with 1 c nuts 2 c thin sliced apples [I ended up using 3-5 apples to get about 2 cups]

Spread rest of dough over nuts and apples, press down with pancake turner and smooth top

Bake 350 degrees - 25 min.

Cool and sift conf. sugar [skipped the powdered sugar]

Cut in bars

Since I had to compress this recipe into a smaller pan, the cake was really thick. I didn't even try to cut it into bars. Plus, when I tried to flip it out of the pan, it started to crumble. Instead I just divided it in half and tucked it into Ziploc containers for various friends at the Big J.

No one complained about the messiness of the baked treats. Apparently, it was better as a crumble than a set of bars. The reports I got was that all the flavors blended together in a big apple crumble yummy delight.

Could be eaten at room temp with a side of yogurt, or heated up and served ala mode.

Since I just went apple picking I'm going to try it again, but doubled on the dry ingredients. I'm also going to bake it in a 13x9 pan. Hopefully that will yield thinner bars.