"Some pursue happiness; others create it"

Let me tell something to you: an alternate spelling for pure happiness.

C-R-U-M-B-L-E C-R-U-S-T

It's one of those simple pleasures that never fails to add a dash of color to my day -- even more than the bright yellow tablecloth currently adorning our dining room table.



Add to that the perfect late summer/early fall weather we've had in DC the past few days, and I could almost forgive myself for being nuts enough to come back to school. Plus there's the perk of living in a place where the lesser holidays, e.g., Columbus Day, are actually observed, resulting in the occasional three-day weekend. Win!


Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
Adapted from Buns in my Oven.

Making these cookies was the perfect study break, since it's amazingly therapeutic to mash crumble crust between your fingers. :)



1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. flour
1 c. rolled oats
1/4 tsp. baking soda
a pinch of salt
1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 c. raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease a 13" x 9" pan.

In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, oats, baking soda, and salt.

Cube the butter (approx. 1 cm cubes) and add to bowl. Using your hands, mash the butter into the dry ingredients to form a crumbly mixture without large chunks.

Press half the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread jam over the bottom crust, to within 1/4-in. of the edge. Sprinkle the remaining half of the crumble mixture over the jam.

Bake until lightly browned, 35-40 min. Cool completely before cutting.