As a food blogger, I try to keep my site somewhat versatile in an effort to appeal to a vast audience. Although My Baking Addiction’s primary focus is on homemade desserts and decent food photography, I do try to throw in the occasional side dish and also attempt to supply my lovely readers with easy, kid friendly recipes.
I know not everyone has time to make cupcakes from scratch or spend hours preparing a gazillion step Daring Bakers recipe. Although I am not a big user of boxed mixes, I do realize they come in very handy in many households and can produce some damn tasty desserts, which is why I post them from time to time.
Since I stalk sitemeter like it’s my job, I know the stats from my blog on a daily basis. I know what is getting a bunch of hits and what does not seem to be going over very well. Last week I received a ton of hits from stumbleupon for my Rocky Road Bars and being oh-so-curious, I checked the tags and ratings for the recipe. I realized that someone had stumbled the recipe and tagged it as trash because it contained a box mix.
Was I offended? Heck no, it cracked me up! And I would like to take a moment to personally thank that person for the stumble because it sent over a lot of traffic… so smooches to you, my anti-boxed cake mix friend, although I have no clue who you are!
Okay, enough of that randomness. In honor of the trash tag, I bring to you another boxed cake mix recipe. This one is ridiculously easy and perfect for a child foodie to make.
It uses very simple ingredients and produces a nicely textured, fruity bar. I used a lemon cake mix and blackberry jam (that is what I had on hand) which was decent, but the recipe as it is written with the yellow cake mix is much tastier, so definitely follow that route. I am thinking the combinations for this recipe are endless and I just bet some of you come up with some scrumptious versions!
July 13th, 2009
Oatmeal Jam Bars
Ingredients:
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
3/4 cup margarine, melted
1 cup raspberry jam
1 tablespoon water
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9"×13" inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together oats, cake mix, and melted margarine so that it makes nice clumps and there is no dry mix left. Press 1/2 of the oats mixture evenly into the bottom the prepared pan. In a separate bowl, mix jam with water, and spread over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over the top.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 23 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Cool before cutting into bars.
- from allrecipes
The rules are as follows
1. Thank the person who has given you the award-goes without saying lol
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog
3. Link to the person who has nominated you for the award
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate
7. Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated
According to the rules, I have to post 7 things you may not know about me:
1. I am not a morning person.
2. I hate bugs with a passion and you will never catch me in a tent.
3. I love fountain pop, diet coke or regular…if I feel like living on the edge.
4. I have an obsession with crime shows, my absolute fave being Criminal Minds.
5. I teach children with emotional disturbances.
6. I love Cheetos…even the baked ones!
7. I treat my dog, Henry, like a child.
Okay, now I have to pass this off to 7 rad bloggers…Here are my nominations!
1. Maria from Two Peas in a Pod
2. Ingrid from Baseball Baking and Books
3. Em from The Repressed Pastry Chef
4. Sara from Sara’s Sweets
5. Avanika from YumsiliciousBakes
6. Eliana from A Chica Bakes
7. Cassie from How to Eat a Cupcake
You gals are all great and keep the recipes coming!!!
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Ha! that is funny they tagged your bars as trash. I doubt anything you make is even near that category! Love the jam bars! Fun learning more about you too:)
That's so funny that someone "trash" tagged because of cake mix. I love cake mix and there is nothing wrong with it!
These bars look great. I love that you used what you had on hand, it sounds like a great combo. Thanks SO MUCH for the award! I really appreciate it.
These bars look fantastic!!
Okay, well, you know I've got NO problem with shortcuts, semi-homemade, or recipes that use box mixes. As a matter of fact as a busy mom of three I love when I find a good one! So thanks for sharing! Even better that my mini foodie can make these w/little help!
THANK YOU for the award!
~ingrid
These look great! And how super easy to pull together. Thanks for the recipe!
Funny….your top 3 "things to know" would be the same as mine!
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I love your blog, occasional cake mixes or not. I'm not afraid to use a shortcut now and then if the recipe is still good. In many ways, you have become my go-to when I'm wanting to try something new.
I also really appreciate the advancement of your photography. One of these days, give us some info on that piece. I'm a basic point and shoot girl, but would love to expand my horizons.
Alison-
Thanks for your kind words!! In regards to the photography, I have gotten quite a few emails about this topic. However, I feel like a fraud giving out tips because I am by no means qualified to do so. I may post a very general entry about my equipment, set-up etc. in the near future. Thanks for commenting and stopping by!
-Jamie
How funny! While I don't tend to use box mixes, I do have a couple sitting on my shelves just in case. While scratch cakes are better, sometimes you just don't have the time! These look wonderful too, so maybe the mixes just have to be repurposed.
I have all these ingredients so I will make this! I love junk recipes! One man's junk is another man's treasure!
Trash! That's hilarious.
Cake mixes are just such a time-saver in fancy treats like this. Who doesn't love that?!
I made a from scratch version of a blueberry oat bar last week and it got rave reviews too. Must be oatbar season.
I adore using cake mixes, the recipes always work well. These sound delicious! I will be trying them.
Well that's just mean. I have some recipes that doctor up a cake mix and they're good. This one looks great too!
Congrats on the award! This recipe sounds amazing, yet so easy =) Thanks for sharing!
Nothing wrong with the boxed mixes when the need arises. Besides, some times they are SO CHEAP it makes sense to have them…just in case. These bars look really yummy!
How funny that your post was tagged trash. I'm glad you are not taking it seriously.
The jam bars look amazing.
OMG I LOVE that story about the "trash" tag–too funny! The bars look great!
Congo on the award, jam bar looks delicious, nice post
Just want to say that I always enjoy your blog, and I don't care whether you use a mix (occasionally) or not. I have been known to use sauce from a jar (sshhhh).
These bars look scrumptious! Jam bars are a real favorite of mine!
Thank you so much for the love Jamie. Coming from you it means a whole lot. And your bars – two words – picture perfect!
I love what a positive approach you've taken to this! Congrats on the award, and thanks for giving me one! I really appreciate it
Ironic! I was looking for a way to semi-homemake a (really old-fashion) Blackberry Jam cake and was confused on which flavor CAKE MIX I should try and there you were with your jam bars from cake mix. I will try the yellow mix first. Thanks so much. (This was my first time reading a blog)
Back in 1959 the neighbor's man of the house insisted that they have cake every week, and "No box cake will ever be in MY house!" He bragged on and on about his wife's delicious cakes.
Of course, they threw the boxes away at our house so he didn't know. Heh!
These bar are fabulous.
Merry
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