Fruit-Filled Oatmeal Bars

1 c flour
1 c quick-cooking rolled oats
2/3 c packed brown sugar
¼ tsp baking soda
½ c butter
1 recipe Apricot-Coconut Filling, Mincemeat Filling, or Raisin Filling (see below)

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter till the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve ½ cup of the crumb mixture.

Using your fingers, press remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9 x9 square pan. Spread with desired filling. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Apricot-Coconut Filling: In a medium saucepan combine 1 cup snipped dried apricots and ¾ cup water. Bring apricot mixture to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine ¼ cup sugar and 1 Tbsp flour. Stir into apricot mixture. Cook and stir about 1 minute more or till thick. Stir in ½ cup coconut.

Mincemeat Filling: In a medium saucepan bring ¾ cup water to boiling Add one 9-ounce package mincemeat. Cover and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring often.

Raisin Filling: In a medium saucepan combine ½ c water, 2 Tbsp sugar and 2 tsp cornstarch. Add 1 cup raisins. Cook and stir till thickened and bubbly.