Rhubarb, Apple and Orange Bars

My garden rhubarb is of the mostly green variety so once cooked I don't get that pretty pink hue associated with grocery store rhubarb. The taste and nutritional value are the same though and these bars have the added crunch of sunflower seeds.

Ingredients:

3 cups fresh or frozen chopped rhubarb

1 cup diced apple

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup fresh orange juice

zest of 1 orange

1 tsp lemon juice

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup oats

1 cup unsalted sunflower seeds

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, at rooom temperature

1/4 tsp salt

In a medium saucepan combine the rhubarb, apple, sugar, orange juice and zest. Bring to a boil then simmer for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice. Set aside.

Mix the flours, oats, sunflower seeds, brown sugar and salt together and cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.

Firmly press about 2/3 of this mixture into a greased 13 X 9" baking dish.

Pour the filling in...

then sprinkle the remaining dry mix over the top and press gently.

Bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes then cool completely before cutting into squares.

Eat them as a handheld snack or...

top them off with a scoop of French vanilla ice cream!