Pumpkin Bars

SWEET CARROT PUMPKIN BARS
A double whammy of pumpkin and carrots gives just one of these bars more than 100 percent of the daily value of vitamin A. The dried fruit and nuts add even more vitamins, minerals and fiber.


Ingredients

* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 large egg
* 1 large egg white
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
* 2 tablespoons canola oil
* 2 tablespoons trans-free margarine or butter, melted
* Grated peel of 1 orange
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 cup packed grated carrots
* 1/2 cup raisins
* 1/3 cup dried cranberries or chopped apricots
* 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans



Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
3. In separate bowl, beat egg and egg white until foamy. Beat in sugar, pumpkin, oil, margarine, orange peel and vanilla extract until smooth.
4. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, and stir by hand until almost combined. Stir in carrots, raisins, cranberries and nuts just until blended.
5. Spread batter into 8"x 8" pan coated with cooking spray. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool in pan on rack.



Makes 1 dozen



Per bar: 214 cal, 0 g pro, 34 g carb, 7 g fat, 1 g sat. fat, 18 mg chol, 2 g fiber, 152 mg sodium

Prep time: 12 minutes

Cooking time: 30 to 35 minutes