Winter Blue(berry) Bars

I have to admit, I've been a little down in the dumps lately.  I blame being overworked and under-sunned.  However, when I stepped outside today and it was brisk, not frigid, I realized winter was on its way out and clung to the hopes of a couple more weeks of hibernation.  I felt the sudden need for a treat, and the simultaneous fear of bathing suits.  I decided to use the already wrinkled 1.5 lb box of blueberries (from Trader Joe's!) I impulse bought the other day to make a breakfast treat I wouldn't feel too bad about.

What I'm trying to say is, I completely made this up and it's delicious.  Success!

For Blueberry Compote:
24 oz blueberries
1/8 cup water 
1/8 cup maple syrup
1 tbsp minute tapioca (optional)

For Oatmeal Base:
1 whole egg
4 egg whites
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup light brown sugar, unpacked
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup flax seeds
2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

For Crumb Topping:
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 x 13 pan.  Combine blueberries, water, and maple syrup in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil.  Keep boiling, stirring often, until greatly reduced.  If using tapioca, add about 5 minutes in.  When it has reached the consistency of a runnier pie filling, take off the heat and let sit.

While the pot is on the stove, mix wet ingredients of oat base (including the brown sugar in a large mixing bowl.  In another mixing bowl, mix the remaining ingredients and then fold into the wet mixture.  Everything will barely combine.

In a small bowl, mix crumb topping ingredients together.  If you're not a confident crumb topping mixer (and who would be other than some of us weirdos), I'll give you a hint: use your (clean) fingers, so you feel it combine.

Mold the oat mixture into the pan, top with the blueberry compote, and then sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the pan.

Bake for 30 minutes.

In case you were wondering... if 12 per batch (calculations approximate): 270 calories each, 10g of fat, 38g carbs (6 grams of fiber) and 9 grams of protein.  That's a lot better than that coffee cake you love.