1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with foil. Lightly grease foil.

2. Mix flour, oats, and sugar in a large bowl.

3. Add butter and cut in with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in extract until blended.

4. Reserve about 1 cup oat mixture. Press remainder oven bottom of pan, adding more mixture if needed to cover. Spread preserves over top to about 1/2 inch from edges.

5. Mix almonds with reserved oat mixture. Sprinkle evenly over preserves, then press down gently. (Some preserves will show through.)

6. Bake 25-30 minutes or until edges are golden. Cool in pan on rack.

7. Lift foil by ends to cutting board. Cut in bars. Makes 24 bars, 105 calories per bar.

From a collection of my mother's (Judy Hosey) recipe box which contained lots of her favorite recipes, clippings, etc. Downloaded from Glen's Mm