Oat Date Bars

Date filling:
1 ¼ c. dates
½ c. water
¼ c. sugar
1 T. lemon juice

Cookie base:
¾ c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 ½ c. flour
1 c. old-fashioned oats

Combine filling ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until dates are soft.

Meanwhile cream butter, brown sugar and salt. Blend in flour and oats until particles are fine. Press 2/3 of crumbs into bottom of greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Spread with filling. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs; press down lightly.

Bake 350˚ 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool. Cut into bars.

Date Bars

I used Medjool Dates from the date farm. Any dates will do! The most common dates from the grocery store are Deglet Noor.
1 egg
½ c. sugar
½ c. butter, melted
1 c. chopped dates
¼ c. chopped pecans
½ c. flour
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 325˚. Mix egg, sugar and melted butter in a medium bowl. Add dates and nuts. Mix together flour, salt and baking powder in a small bowl. Add to date mixture. Stir until just mixed. Spread into a greased 8 x 8 inch pan. Bake 30 minutes at 325˚ or until done. Cool. Cut into bars. Roll in powdered sugar.