Oatmeal Cherry Bars

• 3/4 c. margarine
• 2 c. brown sugar
• 2 c. flour
• 2 c. quick oats (not instant)
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 21 oz. can cherry pie filling
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• chopped nuts (optional)

1. Combine flour, oats and soda. With electric mixer, beat margarine and brown sugar until fluffy. Combine mixtures on low speed until crumbly. Stir in nuts. Spread half the dough on bottom of greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
2. In blender, puree pie filling 5 seconds.
3. Push whole cherries to bottom.
4. Puree another 5 seconds.
5. Pour into medium saucepan.
6. Combine sugar and cornstarch.
7. Mix with cherry filling. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until thick and bubbly.
8. Pour over dough in pan evenly. Spread remaining dough evenly over cherry mixture.
9. Bake at 325u0b0 for 45 minutes until golden.
10. Cool and cut into 24 bars.

margarine, brown sugar, flour, oats, baking soda, cherry pie filling, sugar, cornstarch, almond extract, nuts

Taken from www.cookbooks.com/Recipe-Details.aspx?id=458124 (may not work)