Microwave Oatmeal Jam Bars

I've had this recipe for many years. We got our first microwave in 1983 and this recipe was in the book that came with it. (Sharp Carousel microwave cookbook) It's quick, easy and delicious. The recipe says it makes 32 small bars, but it's hard to cut them that small.

• Ready In: 27 mins
• Serves: 16
• Yields: 16 bars

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup butter or 3⁄4 cup margarine
• 1  cup brown sugar
• 1 3⁄4 cups unsifted flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1⁄2 cups  quick-cooking rolled oats
• 3⁄4 cup  raspberry jam (I don't like raspberry jam, so I've used blackberry, strawberry, etc)

Directions

1. 1. Lightly grease an 8-inch, heat-resistant, non-metallic baking dish.
2. 2. In a medium-sized bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Stir in flour, salt, baking soda and oats. Combine until well blended.
3. 3. Press one-half of mixture into bottom of prepared baking dish.
4. 4. Heat, uncovered, on FULL POWER 5 minutes.
5. 5. Spread jam evenly over baked oat mixture.
6. 6. Crumble remaining oat mixture over jam and press lightly.
7. 7. Heat, uncovered, on FULL POWER 7 minutes. Test for done-ness with a toothpick.(It should come out clean).
8. 8. Allow to cool and cut into bars.