Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars

A delicious rhubarb bar, great for the first rhubarb of the season, or to use up the last. I have found that cooking the rhubarb in half water half fruit juice (I've used orange or pineapple) enhances the flavour nicely.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 24 bars

Ingredients

• Crust

• 1⁄2 cup  chopped  nuts
• 1 1⁄2 cups rolled oats
• 1  cup brown sugar, packed
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1  cup shortening
• 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla

• Filling

• 3  cups  chopped rhubarb
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 2  tablespoons cornstarch
• 1⁄4 cup water
• 1  teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Crust: Combine all ingredients until crumbly.
2. Pat half of mixture into 13x9" baking pan and bake for about 20 minutes before pouring filling on top.
3. Filling: In saucepan combine rhubarb, sugar, cornstarch and water.
4. Cook until clear.
5. Blend in vanilla.
6. Pour over baked crust.
7. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
8. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.