And then, you ruined them.....

Tomorrow we are having a "Back to School BBQ" here at the American Cooperative School of Tunis.  I have a love/hate relationship with school events.  As the school nurse I usually get stuck chatting with a random stranger about a rash their child has developed. Now that I am without my friend B to run interference for me I may be left to my own devices.

I may need to fake sunstroke.

I have a friend who actually said she would rather let people buy tickets to poke needles in her eyes and then, donate the money to the school instead of attend a certain event. I don't think I would go that far, I do however think they should serve adult beverages at said events.

Any way....the memo that went out asked that everyone bring a dessert to share.  Ordinarily you wouldn't have to ask me twice, I'm always happy to bake something. Right now that is a bit of a challenge.  As I have mentioned our shipment hasn't arrived (It is on its way though. Yay!) and I only have one measuring cup, and that is a liquid measuring cup.  I also have only one baking dish, an oval glass pan that is 9X13 inch(ish).  I do have some nice baking goodies that I smuggled along in our luggage here though. Which is where the "You ruined it" part comes in to play.

I wasn't keen on making cookies so I thought a bar cookie or brownie would be easier to make.  I made  Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookie dough and at the last minute added some chopped dried cherries instead of nuts to the batter.  My youngest daughter will protest that move as the worst thing a mom could ever do to a cookie.

There are worse things.

Like spinach. Or raisins. Raisins are from Satan.

Oh, I also wanted to show you my favorite Tunisian baking item.

Bicarbonate de Soude (Baking Soda)

Is it not totally cute?!  All retro and happy and bubbly.  I love seeing it in my pantry, inside are little sachets or packets filled with 2 teaspoons of baking soda per packet.

I don't think I ruined them at all.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal and Cherry Bars

for Morgan, but not really

1 cup butter melted and cooled

1 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups oatmeal

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped dried Montmorency Cherries

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Grease a 9X13 inch baking pan. Line with parchment if desired.

Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and beat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is well combined.  Add the eggs and vanilla and stir well.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Add to the sugar mixture and stir well to combine.  Add the oatmeal, chocolate chips and dried cherries.  Stir well.

Spread the batter into the baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes, do not over brown.  Let cool then refrigerate before cutting.