Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/3 cups old fashioned oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup salted butter melted

2 tsp. vanilla

Filling

1 3/4 cups hulled and diced strawberries from 12 whole

1 1/2 cups 1/4 inch cut rhubarb diced

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1/3 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 x 9 inch baking dish, buttered.

In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking soda and salt for 20 seconds. Add oats, brown sugar and sugar and blend while using fingertips to break up small clumps of brown sugar. Whisk vanilla into melted butter then pour over oat mixture . Stir with spatula until mixture is evenly moistened. Press 2/3 of mixture into baking dish and set aside remaining 1/3.

For the filling. Add diced strawberries and rhubarb in a medium mixing bowl. Toss with lemon juice In a small mixing bowl whisk together sugar and cornstarch. Pour sugar mixture over strawberry mixture and toss to coat. Pour mixture over crumb bottom. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 crumb mixture over top. Bake in preheated oven until top is golden brown and crisp and filling is bubbling - about 45 - 55 minutes. Cool until warm, then cut into squares. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream if desire.