Date-filled Oatmeal Bars

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 3/4 cup butter or 3/4 cup margarine
• 1 (8 ounce) package dates, pitted & chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water

Recipe

• 1 combine flour, oats, soda, salt, & brown sugar.
• 2 cut butter in until it reaches the consistency of coarse meal.
• 3 press half of mixture across the bottom of an ungreased 12x8x2 baking pan.
• 4 combine dates, 1 c. sugar, and water in saucepan.
• 5 cook on low until sugar dissolves, dates soften, and mixture is thick and mushy.
• 6 spread date mixture over dough in pan.
• 7 cover with remaining dough.
• 8 bake at 325 for 40 min or until lightly browned.
• 9 cut into 1"x2" bars while still warm; remove to wire racks to cool.