Use up Those Green Tomatoes Bars

HeatherFeather's Note:

An unusual recipe I clipped from Country Woman magazine years ago. I haven't tried it yet.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 2.0 dozen b ...

• 4 cups green tomatoes, finely chopped
• 2 cups brown sugar, packed (divided)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon flavor extract
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:

1. Drain tomatoes on paper towels for 10 minutes.
2. In a saucepan, add drained tomatoes, 1 cup of the brown sugar, and the fresh lemon juice; simmer,uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon flavor extract and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream the butter and remaining 1 cup brown sugar.
5. Add flour, baking soda, and salt and mix well.
6. Stir in the oats and nuts.
7. Measure out 2 1/2 cups of this dry mixture and press it into the bottom of a greased 9x13" baking pan.
8. Spread the slighly cooled tomato mixture on top.
9. Crumble the remaining dry mixture over the top, like a crumb topping.
10. Bake at 375 F for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.
11. Let cool completely, then cut into 24 bars to serve.

Reviews

[Dr. Paul]

Super sweet, but set off nicely by the tang of the green tomatoes. The vanilla instead of lemon works well. Tomatoes vary a lot in water content, so be prepared to cook until thick. I just cooked it until I was ready with the crust, and then added some corn starch and water to thicken it to a jelly. Otherwise, it would have taken hours. Worked great. I don't understand the unsalted butter to which you add salt. Sodium isn't that critical in this recipe, and it is certainly not a health food. Look at the calories per piece! Use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh. It won't make a bit of difference. I also cut the sugar in the tomatoes to 1/2 cup, and it came out even better than the original. This is a good enough treat to bring to the church potluck.

[Ceezie]

I made these for my daughter and nieces. They liked them. I agree with the reviewer that said they tasted similar to a fig newton, only a bit more tangy. We did drizzle some frosting on them to disguise the green tomato look - the oldest niece and I told the younger two they were green apple bars. The odor does give off that it is made with tomatoes

[farmchick #2]

This is really good. Saddly I have lost my tomatoe crop to late blight...and I can tell you I am feeling so sorry for the Irish who went through the potatoe famine(same disease different plants). Anyhow the extension agent said it was fine to eat the green ones that looked fine...so I have 30 plants worth of green tomatoes almost ready to turn red.......I did use 3 tsp.of cinnamon in the tomatoes, and 1 tsp. in the crust. I skipped the lemon extract. Also used a mixter of millet flour, barely flour, and reg. wheat flour.