Date Bars

Source: Jon Dubovsky

Yield: 1 dozen bars

Rating: 2 of 5 - good, rich

Ingredients

Filling:

• 1 ¼ c. dates (chopped)
• ¼ c. brown sugar
• ½ c. water

Crust:

• 1 ½ c. oats
• 1 c. flour
• ½ c. brown sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ c. shortening

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix together the filling ingredients. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes.
• Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until crumbly. Put half of this crust mixture into a greased 9-inch square pan, pressing flat with the back of a spoon.
• Spread the date filling (prepared above) over the crust.
• Crumble the remaining half of the crust mixture over the filling.
• Cook for 20-25 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then cut.