Oat And Fig Squares Food

HOMEMADE OATMEAL FIG BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8-inch (what I use and recommend) or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides to easily remove the bars when they have cooled. Set aside.
• Combine the chopped dried figs, water, and orange juice together in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook while stirring occasionally for 5-8 minutes or until figs are soft and have absorbed some of the liquid. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Cool for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a food processor or blender and puree until there are no more chunks (fig seeds will not break down). Set aside. Makes *about* 1 and 1/4 cups filling.
• In a large bowl, whisk the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, and egg together. Add the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Begin whisking to combine and once the mixture becomes too thick, switch to a spoon or rubber spatula to bring the ingredients together. You will have about 2 and 1/2 cups of this crust/topping mixture.
• Take a little over 1 and 1/2 cups of the crust/topping mixture and press it evenly into the lined pan. Spread fig filling in an even layer on top. Spoon remaining crust/topping mixture evenly on top and gently press it down into the filling to ensure it's tight and compact on top.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top has lightly browned. Avoid over-baking. 8 inch pans take closer to 30 minutes, 9 inch pans take closer to 25 minutes. (Note: Oil/moisture will soak on the parchment paper during the baking & cooling process. That's normal with this recipe.) Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack. Cool bars completely.
• Lift the bars out using the parchment paper overhang on the sides. Cut into squares.
• Cover leftover bars and store at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

FIG, OAT AND YOGURT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the oats, almonds and pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet and bake until just beginning to toast, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and fold in the chia and flax seeds. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, add the honey, almond butter, vanilla extract, 1/4 cup of the coconut oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until the ingredients are melted. Stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the oat mixture. Spray a rubber spatula with nonstick cooking spray and gently fold until combined. Fold in the figs.
• Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, then line with parchment with a 1-inch overhang on 2 of the sides. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet and use the rubber spatula (or damp hands) to press into an even layer. Bake until light golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes then transfer to the refrigerator to cool completely, about 2 hours.
• About 30 minutes before the bar is done chilling, remove the yogurt from the refrigerator to bring to almost room temperature.
• Microwave the remaining 1/4 cup coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl until melted, about 30 seconds. Let sit until cool to the touch but still liquid, about 10 minutes.
• Add the yogurt to the coconut oil and whisk until smooth. Spread the yogurt mixture on top of the bar with a small offset spatula. Chill until hardened, about 1 hour.
• Use the parchment to remove the bar from the baking sheet; cut into 16 bars. Store in an airtight container or individually wrapped in parchment paper, at room temperature or in the refrigerator, for up to 1 week.

OAT AND FIG SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F . Put figs in a small saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and let figs soften for 5-7 minutes. Do not drain.
• Lightly coat an 8X8-inch baking pan with cooking spray (or line with parchment paper or nonstick foil). In a small bowl, mix canola oil or butter, honey, and milk. In a medium bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, baking soda, and salt; add wet ingredients, then mix well.
• Remove softened figs from water and place in a blender or food processor. Add 3 tablespoons of the rehydrating water and puree until smooth. (I added a tiny bit more water as they still seemed a little thick to spread easily.).
• Place a little more than half of the oat mixture in the prepared pan and spread evenly across the bottom. (It was sticking to my hands a bit, so I laid waxed paper over it to press on as I evened it out.) Spread figs evenly on top. Add remaining oat mixture on top of fig layer, allowing some of the figs to show through. (I just pinched off bits of the dough and dropped them evenly over the top.) Pat lightly to flatten.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan on a wire rack. When cool, cut into 16 squares.