Strawberry Bars for the Cajun!!!

There was a time when I absolutely loved to eat Nutrigrain bars.   They made a mighty tasty "on-the-go" breakfast.    At some point in my life after reading the nutritional facts,  I decided all those preservatives just weren't necessary and quickly began the search for something better that could easily be prepared at home.   These babies are absolutely delicious!   You gotta try them!

Strawberry Fruit Bars

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup oatmeal,  (I prefer the old fashioned kind.)

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup strawberry jam ( I used a small jar of this...)

Spray a square brownie pan with cooking spray & cover with foil.  Spray again.

Combine the first 6 ingredients until it is crumbly.  

Spread 1/2 into prepared pan.

Spread the Jam

Spread the remaining crumblies & press together.

Bake @ 350 for 35-40 minutes or until golden.

I think that changing up the jam would be fun here...Seedless Raspberry?  Peach?  Blueberry?

So many options!!!

Hey...RB, is this quick enough for you?

Tomato Soup has changed my life.

 All my life I have thought that tomato soup was yucky and tasted metallic.  Yea,  I was raised to think that canned was the only way to get tomato soup.    And why should I order tomato soup at a restaurant when I don't like it?   My dear husband thinks it is amazing.  Canned, that is.

Hey, Mrs. CS......make this!!!! You will like it.  Get out your giant Le Crueset!!!

WELL....... We were watching an episode of PW and she was making it.   It looked easy.   I was hungry.  He said that he would go to the grocery store.  Ok, yea baby........  I'll make that.   Can you pick up a loaf of french bread too?  And a gallon of milk?

Tomato Soup

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 large carrots, finely diced

1 medium onion, finely diced

1 garlic clove, pressed

   *( these really need to be finely diced.....food processor?)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

3 large cans whole tomatoes, the 28 oz size

4 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons parsley

1 cup water

Saute the top 5 ingredients.  Add the tomato paste and cook another 3 minutes.

Add the remaining and boil.  Reduce heat and simmer another 20 minutes or so.  

You really want the vegetables tender.

Get out your immersion blender and puree until smooth.  

Add..   1/2 cup whipping cream 

            2 tablespoons basil, chopped

            salt & pepper to taste

Simmer another 5 minutes.