Raspberry Rhubarb Crisp

There is a small restaurant in our town that makes delicious, hearty meals. The buffet steams with Indian curries and vegetable stews, wild rice casseroles layered with melted cheese and warm slices of baked sweet potato clinging to their toasted skins. Once you've filled your plate with a colorful array of foods you reach the counter, and as you hand the waitress your plate to be weighed, you'll notice all of the beautiful baked goods. Thumbprints filled with raspberry jam, a chocolate bundt cake dusted with powdered sugar, and apricot muffins with grandiose tops.

There is often one giant crisp filled with seasonal fresh fruits sitting on the counter. When you decide to try some, they'll fill a wide soup cup to the brim and heat it in the microwave. Once it's warm a waiter will bring it over to your table and you'll dive in with a spoon, scooping out a warm mouthful of berries with a sprinkling of oats. The berries are tart and sweet, and so velvety they will seem to just melt away in your mouth.... Suddenly you'll realize how little you have left and you'll try to savor the last few bites. When you reach the bottom you'll fervently scrape the last traces of filling from the dish, licking the spoon clean. And when you've finished you'll ask yourself why you don't eat crisps more often.

Banana Cookies on Sunday

This time every year, when summer and freedom are just out of grasp and I can count the school days left on two hands, the weeks seem to stretch into eternities of stressful projects and late nights finishing homework. By the time I walk in the back door on Friday afternoon, and let my backpack fall to the floor, I'm ready to pass out on the couch with a chilled glass of juice and a good book. Friday afternoon always fades effortlessly into Sunday morning and assignments and their looming deadlines that were left behind, neglected, have to be faced head on and painstakingly started. It's the first step that's always the worst, especially when there are chocolate chips in the house.

To get through those final hours of homework, when I'd really rather be doing anything else, it always helps to have a little motivation and plenty of breaks in between. I set down my homework, preheat the oven, find that bag of chocolate chips, and dance through the kitchen with the carefree mind of someone who hasn't seen homework in years.

Making a batch of cookies is so perfectly rhythmic and peaceful, that the nagging homework can disappear for just a moment or two. Mashing up a ripe banana, gently cracking open an egg over a glass, beating chocolate chips into dough, allow all of my pent up stress to simply melt away. And of course, cookies and comics combine to make a fine Sunday morning too.

Raspberry Snow Day

This morning, I didn't wake up to the wailing of my alarm clock.  When I got out of bed, I didn't have to turn on the lights - the sun was already up and streaming in through the windows.  When I got downstairs, I ate my morning bowl of cereal sitting at the dining room table, with enough time to flip through the paper and read the comics.  Needless to say, it was a beautiful start to the day.

The superintendent called last night confirming that today would be a snow day.  The weather forecast had predicted about two feet of snow, so on Tuesday the school was buzzing with hope and skepticism of a possible snow day.  When my sister picked up the phone she listened for a few seconds, before bursting out screaming; I jumped for joy (literally).  I didn't have to stress over homework, I could sleep in, and oh I don't know... bake!

I've been thinking about making raspberry oatmeal bars - a favorite of mine and my mom's - for a little while, so in my excitement I decided I would make them today. One of the great things about these bars is how simple they are: they don't take long to whip together and they are made from six pretty basic ingredients, so chances are you won't need to run to the store.

The snow kept coming down the entire day, in big powdery snowflakes.  Terrible road conditions aside, it was really a beautiful day.  The snow was gorgeous and the sun was shining and being outside was wonderful.

After a while the beautiful snow became cold and wet and I was forced to head in.  But, hey, it wasn't all bad with a raspberry oatmeal bar chewy and sweet, waiting for me inside.

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars 

 Adapted from allrecipes.com 

 makes one 8x8 pan

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup whole wheat all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup salted butter (softened)

3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350°F , and butter pan. Mix brown sugar, flour, baking soda, and 3/4 cup of the oats.  Add the butter, and mix until combined.  It should be a loose crumb mixture. Press two cups of the mixture on the bottom of the pan (use your palm, or the bottom of a glass, just make sure its firmly packed).  Spread the jam over, leaving about a 1/4" edge.  Add the remaining 1/4 cup oats to the remaining crumble, mix well, and sprinkle over the raspberry jam.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until lightly browned.  Let cool before cutting.