Lightening Up in 2013?

January always inspires fresh starts and, after all the holiday celebrations, we like to get back to the basics on the menu. This time of year is perfect to lighten up a recipe here or there without sacrificing a bit of homestyle flavor, and if you're thinking along the same lines, we'd love to hear what you're cooking up these days!

So tell us...

What are your favorite LIGHTENED UP recipes?
Share 'em all in today's Recipe Round-Up!

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This recipe was published in our cookbook, Farmers' Market Favorites, and is a wholesome treat that still satisfies the sweet tooth!   

Peanut Butter-Oat Bars
Jennifer Martineau of Delaware, Ohio, shared this recipe with us. She writes, "For brownie-like bars, bake closer to 20 minutes, but if you'd like them a bit crunchier, bake for 25 minutes."
1/2 c. whole-wheat flour
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. baking soda
1/8 t. sea salt
3/4 c. crunchy peanut butter
1/4 c. brown sugar, packed
1/3 c. honey
1 egg
2 egg whites
2 T. sunflower or olive oil
2 t. vanilla extract
2 c. long-cooking oats,
    uncooked
1 c. sweetened dried cranberries
    or raisins
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1/2 c. white or dark chocolate chips
Whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, beat peanut butter, brown sugar and honey with an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat egg and whites in a separate bowl; add to peanut butter mixture. Mix in oil and vanilla. Add flour mixture; stir in remaining ingredients. Spread into a greased 13"x9" baking pan, using the back of a spatula to spread easily. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Cut into squares. Makes about 15 to 18 bars.
Click here for a printable version of this recipe!

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Ready to add your own
LIGHTENED UP recipe?

See below to join the party and, if you're sharing this hop on your
own blog, link back here with button below.

Just click here to get the code.

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Be sure to visit some new friends this week and VOTE for your favorites by clicking Like under their entries...we'll feature the recipes with the most likes on Sunday!

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 Even if you don't have a blog to link below, tell us about YOUR recipe in the comments or, if you have a moment, share it with us on our website!

  This is a Blog Hop!