Cleo's Raisin Filled Cookie Bars

I had these when I was growing up and truly missed them as I got older. I have have many a raisin cookie and I went asking my mom for this recipe because it was always the best. Cleo is one of my mom's best friends and I have held onto this one and cherished it.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Yields: 32 cookies

Ingredients

• Filling

• 2 1⁄2 cups raisins, coarsely chopped
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 2  tablespoons cornstarch
• 3⁄4 cup water
• 3  tablespoons lemon juice

• Crumb Mixture

• 3⁄4 cup butter or 3⁄4 cup margarine
• 1  cup brown sugar
• 1 3⁄4 cups flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1⁄2 cups oats

Directions

1. Cook filling ingredients in a saucepan over low heat until thick, about five minutes.
2. Mix butter and sugar together then add the flour, salt, baking soda and oats and mix until it resembles crumbs.
3. Press half of mix into a 9 X 13" pan.
4. Spread on raisin filling.
5. Pat on remain crumb mixture to cover all the filling.
6. Bake at 400° for 20 to 25 minutes.
7. Cool and cut into bars.