Apricot Oatmeal Bars

These bars make a healthy and tasty snack for the whole family. For an added treat, serve warm with a scoop of low-fat vanilla ice cream.

2 cups Regular Old-Fashioned Oats
1 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
1 cup packed Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Light Margarine
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cups Apricot Preserves

Preheat oven to 350. Coat 13" x 9" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, margarine and vanilla. Cut the margarine into the mixture using a fork or use 2 knives to "crumble" the margarine into the mixture.

Press half of the oat mixture into the bottom of the baking dish. Then spread the apricot preserves onto the oat mixture, followed by the remaining oat mix on top. Gently press mixture to form a smooth top.

Bake for 35 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

When cool cut into 36 bars.