I was out for a run on the trail the other day when I came up behind an older gentleman wearing a shiny blue baseball jacket and ball cap, strolling, as many men his age do, with both hands clasped together behind his back.
He heard me coming (my gasping for air was hard to miss…) and turned to acknowledge me with a kind smile and tip of his cap. I returned the gesture then melted a little inside thinking about what a precious Grandpa he probably is to some cute family.
As I continued on I couldn’t help but think about my own Grandpa, on my Mom’s side. (My Dad’s Dad died before I was born.) He passed away almost 10 years ago, and while I pray for him every night, it had been a long time since I really thought about him.
About how he never left the house without a sharp-looking newsboy cap fitted tightly to his head.
The sound of his laugh when he really got going – ah-TEE-HEE-HEE-HEE! – accompanied by a hearty knee slap. (Holy. Chubby. Child.)
How he called me Kristianna.
How encouraging he was with his grandchildren as we hammered and played in the woodworking shop in his basement when we came to visit.
The sliced banana floating in skim milk that he had every single morning for breakfast.
The way he knew how to fix anything, and everything.
How he waited in line at the Hallmark store every December to get me, his only granddaughter, the collector Barbie ornament he knew I loved to open on Christmas morning.
And “his chair” in the corner of the living room, with a bowl full of butterscotch candies sitting on the end table next to it.
Never in my 19 years of knowing my Grandpa did he ever fill that bowl with anything but rich, sweet, butterscotch candies.
Not peppermint, cherry, cinnamon, or orange. All butterscotch, all the time.
It was this trip down memory lane that had me itching to make a connection with him.
A culinary connection with, what else…
Butterscotch!
Lighter Butterscotch Bars, to be exact! Lighter Butterscotch Bars feature a crumbly oatmeal crust made with less sugar and fat than traditional butterscotch bars, topped with a creamy layer made from fat-free sweetened condensed milk, and a modest amount of sweet butterscotch chips.
Crunchy, chopped pecans dot the top.
Then reserved oatmeal crust goes on streusel-style, before the bars are baked, cooled, sliced, and served.
I know my Grandpa would have adored these. :)
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Lighter Butterscotch Bars
Description
Lighter Butterscotch Bars are made with less sugar and fat than your traditional bars, but are still a gooey, nostalgic treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 5 Tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg
- 9oz flour (about 2 cups)
- 2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats (can use old-fashioned oats)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup fat-free sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/4 cups butterscotch chips
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (can use walnuts)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together butter and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in vanilla and egg, then set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, salt, and baking soda. Add to butter and sugar mixture, then combine with a fork until crumbly.
- Place 3 cups of the oat mixture into the bottom of a non-stick sprayed 9x13" baking dish. Press evenly into the bottom of the pan, then set it, and remaining oat mixture aside.
- Combine sweetened condensed milk, butterscotch chips, and salt together in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted and smooth. Pour over the crust, then spread to cover evenly. Sprinkle pecans on top, then add remaining oat mixture on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until topping is golden brown. Place on a cooling rack and run a knife around the outside edges. Cool completely, then slice and serve.
Notes
From Cooking Light
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
How do I even begin to describe the dense lusciousness of a Lighter Butterscotch Bar?!
Ultra decadent tasting, with a creamy, chewy inside, and a crispy, crunchy outside – all for just 148 calories a bar. Totally unreal.
That signature, caramely, butterscotch flavor takes me right back to sitting on my Grandpa’s lap, unwrapping a candy or two with him. Sigh!
Thanks for letting me reminisce – he really was special!
Culinarystorm 05.10.2012
That’s precious! And the bars look awesome. I miss my grandpa too :(
Queen of Less Drama 05.09.2012
I love this post! I love butterscotch pudding and my granddad used to make it for me. I think I will make these bars for him and send them to him. He’s 96 years old…yikes. We used to play/work in his woodworking shop, too. He had the same tools in your pic. He always wears the same kind of cap, too. I’m glad you have such fond memories of your granddad. My favorite memories with mine are setting up for a yard sale. He let me collect the money…that made me feel very important and oh-so special. I love my granddaddy!
Fallon 05.09.2012
Yum those look so good!!
Maura @ My Healthy 'Ohana 05.09.2012
Aw, what wonderful memories you have of your grandfather! It’s funny how the little things, like butterscotch candies in a dish are the things that stand out…my husband has a similar memory of his grandmother who kept candies in an old green tin, and he mentioned it during his tribute to her at her funeral. Hope to try your butterscotch bar recipe soon!
Lisal 05.09.2012
Thank you for the sweet post. The image of your grandpa standing in line at the Hallmark store for your special ornament touched my heart. A very special person indeed.
ashley 05.09.2012
I adore this post….it brought tears to my eyes because my grandpa had a chair in the corner of the living room too and he always had werthers or lifesaver mints in his candy jar. My favorite memory of popop is his sense of humor and his story telling. He was full of stories :)
Alexis 05.09.2012
thank you so much for sharing your stories of your grandfather with us.. he sounds truly amazing. unfortunately, I was never able to meet either of my grandfathers, but I know they were both great men.
have a good rest of your week :)
pinkflipflops 05.09.2012
((((()))) You got me tearing up at the barbie ornament.
Rachel 05.09.2012
What a great post! Grandpas are the best. I remember mine in his striped bib overalls with no shirt underneath working at the farm. He always had a pocket watch on him. My other Grandpa always smelled so sweet and spoiled us rotten. Tear:)
Rachel 05.09.2012
My last remaining grandparent (my grandfather) passed away Christmas morning back in 2008. I’m still heart-broken about it, because he was the one I was closest to. When I was in college, if I got bored in my dorm room or just wanted a decent meal, he’d come and pick me up & I’d spend the night with him & my grandma. Of all things, I miss sitting around watching golf and drinking coffee with him.
Karla 05.09.2012
What a sweet post and tribute, Kristin. Your Grandpa sounds like an amazing man and would no doubt be so proud of his amazing granddaughter! :)
Jacki 05.09.2012
That “chubby child” had pure bliss written all over her sweet face hugging grandpa.
I lucked out and remember all 4 of my grandparents very well. My grandpa on my father’s side died in 1998 and the other 3 died in July of 2010, 3 months after my granddaughter was born and all a couple weeks apart from each other.
My paternal grandfather loved to fish and pick walnuts. I remember several Saturday nights with Lawrence Welk.
My maternal grandfather was a teaser with a sweet tooth and whenever we went to help on the farm, he always shared his stash with us.
Miss them all!
Emily 05.09.2012
What a sweet story! I love butterscotch and can’t wait to make these!
Monte 05.09.2012
A wise and loving Grandpa, hence a wise and wonderful Granddaughter…its how life works.
MigraineMe 05.09.2012
What a neat post! It’s crazy how much I associate food and the certain smells of food with certain family members and family traditions!
Dawn Mather 05.09.2012
Love the reminising! My Grandpa grilled the bests steaks. The last time I went and stayed with them for a week over the summer (I was 16) and we had steak everynight for supper. It was great. I think of him whenever we eat steak.
Molly 05.09.2012
I love this. My grandpa always had butterscotch candies by his chair too…and now, my dad, who will be 60 on Tuesday (shhh) keeps a stash too. There is something special about grandparents to which nothing can compare. And although the only surviving grandparent I have will be turning 93 years young this June, I can’t help but relish in memories every time I see someone who must be a fabulous grandparent to someone else. Thank you!
Rachel 05.09.2012
Such a great story, it brought tears to my eyes too. My grandfather also loved Butterscotch. He would sing Scottish hymns and silly songs all the time and tell me that he was 111 years old. I always believed him.
Those bars look delish too! I’m going to make them this weekend.
Kim 05.09.2012
Grandpa’s are the best (well, and grandma’s). Hey, I am going to have some happy students tomorrow. I baked the peanut butter cookies with the Reese’s cup in the middle. Yum!
Claudia S. 05.09.2012
Oh After reading this post I miss my grandpa so much! What I miss about him is his smell, Old Spice cologne.
Yummy recipe!
Thanks for sharing!