Old Fashioned Date Nut Bars

Chef MB's Note:

A little different from other recipes I've seen here, because the nuts are in the crust and there's the addition of lemon. They sound great. Wish I knew where the recipe came from! Read all the way through--notes at the end are from the original author.

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 20

BASE

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 2⁄3; cup butter
• 3 eggs
• ½ lb walnuts , ground
• 1 lemon, juice and zest of

FILLING

• 2 cups dates , cut fine
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

TOPPING

• ½ cup flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ cup butter

Directions:

1. Combine filling ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer a few minutes till thickened. Set aside and let cool.
2. For the base, sift together dry ingredients.
3. Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs, and dry ingredients and walnuts. Add lemon juice and zest to moisten.
4. Spread on a cookie sheet and up the sides.
5. Spread cooled filling over crust.
6. Combine filling ingredients with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle on top and bake at 375 F for 35-40 minute.
7. Original recipe calls for the bars to be baked on a cookie sheet pan. We like them thicker, so I put them in a 9 X 13 cake pan.
8. Cool and cut unto bars.
9. To serve sprinkle liberally with 10X sugar.