Date-Orange Bars

• 1/2 lb. dates, cut up
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1/2 c. water
• 3/4 c. shortening (1 1/2 sticks butter)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. soda dissolved in 2 Tbsp. hot water
• 1/2 c. chopped nuts
• 1 3/4 c. flour
• 1 (14 oz.) pkg. candy orange slices
• powdered sugar

1. Boil dates, sugar, flour and water until thick, then let cool. Spread 1/2 of batter in greased 9 x 13 pan or smaller.
2. Cover with candy orange slices (which have been sliced lengthwise in 3 pieces).
3. Spread date mixture over orange slices.
4. Spread on remaining batter.
5. Bake at 350u0b0 for 40 minutes.
6. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
7. Cut in small bars.
8. These bars freeze well.

dates, sugar, flour, water, shortening, salt, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, soda, nuts, flour, orange slices, powdered sugar

Taken from www.cookbooks.com/Recipe-Details.aspx?id=121614 (may not work)