Fireman’s Delight

We are not much at planning in our house and we tend to do most things on a whim. So I was not surprised when Katie called me and asked where to find the oats in our cabinet. I knew she was baking again.

The 6 graders in Katie’s school are taking a class called Collaboration and Leadership where they are asked to do a two-hour service project for someone in their community. Katie decided to bake some sweets for the local fire station since they do so much to keep us safe.

She made these yummy Dairy, Egg and Nut Free Chocolate Chip Bars from the Food Allergy Mama. Check out her website for very easy to make recipes that have all been delicious! 

Dairy, Egg and Nut Free Chocolate Oat Bars

1/3 C   dairy free shortening (Crisco)

2/3 C   light brown sugar

¼ C     unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp.   vanilla

1 C      flour

¼ tsp.  baking soda

¼ tsp.  salt

1 ¼ C quick cooking oats (not instant)

1 C     dairy free chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch Pyrex dish and set aside.

In a mixer, combine the shortening, brown sugar, vanilla and applesauce. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt and mix. Add the flour mixture to the shortening mix. Stir in the oats and chips. Spread this mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Cool and cut into squares.

This amazing smell greeted me as I walked in the door. I thought about eating it all myself but it was for a good cause. Right? Right! So being spur of the moment people, we sliced them up and headed off to our local fire station and rang the doorbell. It was around dinner time and we thought they might want some dessert with their dinner. Proper etiquette would be for us to call first but if we waited much longer, their wouldn't be any left for them to eat. 

Sure enough a very handsome fireman answered the door and asked us to come in. To our surprise, they gave us a full tour of the fire station, explained how their equipment worked and had Katie try on their fire hat and very large, fire proof coat. I would love to have shown you pictures of Katie with this giant fire hat on her head, sitting in the driver’s seat of the fire truck but I forgot to bring my camera. You’ll just have to use imagination!

For all the firemen and women out there, thank you for everything you do for us!