Date Bars

• DATE FILLING
• 3 cups dates, chopped
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• CRUST MIXTURE
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats

1. Date Filling: Mix 3 cups chopped dates (1 lb.) with 1/4 cup sugar and 1 1/2 cups water in saucepan.
2. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, about 10 minutes or until thickened; Cool.
3. Grease 13x9 baking pan.
4. Crust Mixture: Cream butter, shortening, and brown sugar.
5. Mix in remaining ingredients.
6. Press half the mixture in bottom of pan.
7. Spread with filling.
8. Top with remaining crumble mixture, pressing lightly.
9. Bake at 400u0b0F 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown.
10. While warm, cut into bars about 2 inches X 1 1/2 inches.
11. VARIATION: You can omit date filling and substitute 1 cup of your favorite jam.

filling, dates, sugar, water, mixture, butter, shortening, brown sugar, allpurpose, salt, baking soda, quickcooking oats

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/date-bars-76240 (may not work)