Jam Bars (Loveless Cafe Recipe)

1 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned)

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 pound cold, unsalted butter, cut into cubes

3/4 cup jam or preserves  (I prefer seedless)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and pecans in a mixer bowl with a flat beater. Cut in the butter and mix until it forms crumbs. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of this mix. Press the remaining mix into a greased, paper-lined 9 X 13 inch pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. When done, spread the preserves over the crust. Top with the reserved crumbs and return to the oven. Bake until the top is golden, about 20 minutes. Cool completely before removing from pan and cutting. Makes two dozen bars.