I wish I had a picture of the simple dessert that I made for my son and I today. We are both feeling under-the-weather and in need of a treat. I pulled out my favourite cookbook, The 1978 Kids’ Cooking Contest Cookbook, published by the Regina Public Library.

This cookbook contains simple, but delicious recipes. The drawings in the cookbook are adorable.

I tried to imagine what the lives of children who submitted these recipes have been like. Do they remember entering a cooking contest and having their recipes published? Do they still live here?

Here’s the recipe for Butterscotch Oat squares. I used to make this recipe regularly years ago, but had forgotten about it. A few weeks ago, my younger sister called and asked me for it. Since then, I have made it twice and found out that my son, Benoît, loves them. This is quite something, since he usually prefers store-bought cookies. (I think that is because I make cookies regularly and so cookies from a store seem exotic. It reminds me of my older sister who used to want to take store-bought white bread sandwiches to school in grade one. My mum used to bake all our bread way back then.)

Butterscotch Oat Squares

1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups large flake rolled oats

Combine sugar, baking powder and rolled oats. Add butter and vanilla. Blend thoroughly. Spread in a square, ungreased pan. Bake at 375 degrees fahrenheit for eight to ten minutes or until golden brown.

Let stand for five minutes. While still warm, cut in squares with a sharp knife (that is, if you haven’t already eaten a bunch of the mixture as soon as it had cooled a bit!!) . Let cool and then remove from pan.