Anita's Mom's Date Squares

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped pitted dates
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 orange, juice and grated rind of
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 3/4 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup soft butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar

Recipe

• 1 first, make filling.
• 2 in a heavy saucepan, combine dates, sugar, water, orange juice and grated orange rind.
• 3 cover pot and bring to a boil.
• 4 reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until dates are tender and all the liquid is absorbed; this will take 15 to 20 minutes.
• 5 let mixture cool.
• 6 preheat oven to 375f; lightly grease a 9-inch square cake pan and set aside.
• 7 to make crust, stir together flours, soda and oats.
• 8 in a mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together, then add in the flour mixture and stir until crumbly and moist.
• 9 pat two-thirds of the mixture into the prepared pan, then spread cooled filling evenly over this base.
• 10 sprinkle with remaining flour mixture, evenly over entire surface, and then pat in lightly.
• 11 bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn golden.
• 12 let cool slightly before cutting into bars or squares.