BLUEBERRY-OAT SQUARES.

last night i got to hit up my kitchen and bake a treat. i decided to take a breather from my traveling stories (only one left!) with this recipe -- blueberry-oat squares. this recipe is gluten-free and vegan for you health nuts like me.
BLUEBERRY-OAT SQUARES:
filling:
- 1 pint of blueberries
- 1/4 c. agave nectar
- 1/4 c. apple juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
-  2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with enough water to form a paste (probably 2-3 tsp)
batter:
- 3 c. gluten-free oatmeal (regular, not instant)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
- 6 tbsp agave nectar
- 6 tbsp for water
- 1 tsp vanilla
steps:
preheat oven to 375 degrees; oil an 8"x8" pan.
in a small saucepan, combine blueberries, nectar and juice. bring to a boil. when it boils, stir in vanilla and cornstarch. continue to stir as it boils and thickens, like so. remove from heat and set aside.
    

put 1 1/2 c. oats into a food processor (or blender that has this feature) and blend until it's a fine powder. pour into a bowl and add remaining oats, cinnamon, baking powder and salt; mix well.

stir in the applesauce, nectar, water and vanilla; mix well. if it looks as gross as mine does below, you're doing well.

spread half of the batter into the pan, covering the bottom completely. spoon filling over batter; top with remaining the batter.

bake for 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. cool before slicing squares.

even my baby tilley till wanted them.

the majority of the time, my goal when baking is to bake something that can be eaten at any time because, well, i like to eat any time. these squares are one of my favorites; they can easily be eaten for a snack, a light dessert, or for breakfast because they aren't overly sweet at all. they are perfect. you guys! you need these in your life.