[bluebonnet]

A friend told me about Oats to Go recipe for lowering cholesterol. I bought them, but they were way too sweet for me. Anyone have a good low sodium, lower sugar recipe for the bars?

[KellyA]

Good Morning! I don't have a favorite recipe off the top of my head. Seems like every time I have made oatmeal bars it has been off the RD plan so I haven't worried about sodium or sugar. My grandma picks up odds & ends for me whenever she goes out shopping at goodwills and last night she got me this British magazine called Vegetarian. There is a recipe in it that you might like (I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds promising and the pictures look delicious *smiles*)....

Cranberry Oatcakes

Ingredients

225g/8oz medium oatmeal, plus extra for dusting
1/4 tsp bicrabonate of soda
1/4 tsp salt
25g/1oz dried, sweetened cranberries, roughly chopped
1 tbsp unsalted butter

Directions

1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the oatmeal, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl and mix well. Stir in the cranberries. Heat the butter and 150ml water in a small pan until the butter melts.

2. Make a well in the centre of the oatmeal mix, pour in the liquid and use a palette knife to mix everything together. The mixture will initially seem a bit wet, but the oatmeal will gradually absorb all the liquid to give a soft dough.

3. Lightly dust a clean work surface with oatmal. Tip out the dough, then roll out to about 5mm thick. Use a small round or star shaped cutter to stamp out the oatcakes, or use your favorite Christmas shapes. Re-roll any trimmings and continue to cut out biscuits. Cut biscuits can be frozen, uncooked for up to a month. Freeze flat before backing into bags or boxes.

4. Brush off any excess oatmeal, then space the oatcakes over 2 baking sheets. Bake for about 20 minutes, carefully turning them every 5 minutes or so to stop them from steaming and going stodgy. When cooked they should be crisp and lightly golden. Lift onto a wire rack and leave to cool. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Makes about 20 small oatcakes.

PER SERVING
54 kcals, protien 1g, carbs 9g, fat 2g, sat fat 1g, sugar 1g, salt 0.12g

I analyzed the recipe at Calorie Count and it translated that to mean 52mg sodium. I would reduce the sodium by using sodium free baking soda & either omit the salt all together or use one of those salt substitutes.

Here is another take on the recipe from that same page:

Black Pepper Bites: For a more savoury oatcake, omit the cranberries, then coarsely grind 2 tsp black peppercorns and tip them into a fine sieve. Shake and discard any fine dust, then add the remaining course grounds into the oatmeal mix. Prepare and cook the oatcakes as before. You could also try adding poppy seeds or finely chopped herbs like rosemary and thyme.

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I was thinking of trying to find a good scone recipe. That may be a good way to have less sweet oatmeal bar types of meals. I'll let you know when/if I find a recipe I'm happy with Best of luck!!

[bluebonnet]

Thank You KellyA. I have printed this off and will give the recipe a try. Both sound interesting.

[KellyA]

You're welcome *smiles* It's worth a try! Some of my favorite recipes were something that I just tried out & ended up loving it. I DO want to find a good scone recipe some day

[Leeney]

Somewhere around here is a recipe for Lynnie's Oat Bars. A Forum member, Lynnie, submitted it some years ago. I think it's in the newest recipe book from the Rice House. If I can find it, I'll post it. You make them in a pan, slice them up, freeze and use as needed. Good travelling food.

Posted: 11 Jul 2006 19:13 Post subject: Oatmeal Fruit & Nut Blend & Oatmeal Bars

OK, here it is. The search engine on this site leaves alot to be desired, so I copied it from a copy I had saved.

________________________________________
I make my oatmeal in my crock pot (Recipe in old forum) but for convenience I will add here as well.

1 cup of steel cut oatmeal
4 cups water
Add to crock pot (my crock pot's lowest cooking time is for 4 hours - however I prefer the texture of my oatmeal in about 2 hours - but have had it in the 4 hours and it is just fine.

While oatmeal is cooking, I dice up dried fruit (a few each)- apricots, dates, prunes, I add about a tablespoon each of raisins, cranberries and crushed almonds.

When oatmeal has cooled somewhat (so the fruit stays nice and doesn't become mushy) I add the fruits and almonds and blend throughout oatmeal. I store it in one large zip lok and have a small container that holds a bit more than a half cup - just big enough to add a bit of milk if you want - some days I just eat this plain - the fruits and almonds add such a nice flavor to the oatmeal that nothing more is really needed.

This amount lasts me for at least a week's worth of breakfasts. I also eat this for my 3 meals on my Detox day - I add a whole banana which I have by itself in between my meals.

I find this to be very satisfying and filling.

I also make my oatmeal blend into bars - after cooking the oatmeal and adding the fruits and almonds. I prepare a pan (usually about 8x10- or a brownie pan will do) and layer the bottom with waxed paper and pour in the oatmeal (the mixture will be very thick - the depth will be about an inch) and press it into the corners and smooth out the top. The wax paper serves to keep the oatmeal from sticking to the pan and allows you to easily lift your baked oatmeal out of the pan.

I bake this in an oven about 350 degrees and keep an eye on it - it's done when the top is lightly browned. I like the bar when it has shape but is still very moist - I would imagine that you could bake it longer if you like it more crispy texture.

When done to your likeness - remove wax paper and set it on a cutting board and cut into oatmeal into bars - I wrap each bar with a fresh piece of waxed paper and fold it up and then place it in a zip lok bag - so they are ready for a "quick grab" when you are on the go.

I originally made these for my D-I-L - who loves my oatmeal but always said she didn't have time to sit down and eat it in the AM - so the bars were invented - now she can just grab and go and eat them on her way to work.

Enjoy
_________________
I Think I Can - I Think I Can
Lynnie

[KellyA]

I re-bought my RD book cause my original copy is packed away in storage at my FIL's house. I will look at the recipe's section tonight/tomorrow & post back if it differs from what Leeney posted

[bluebonnet]

Thanks folks for the great recipes and your helpful response. I hope I can respond in such thoughtful ways. I will be trying the bars you sent via Lynnie soon Leeney Bluebonnet