Date Bars

My sister got a pan of these along with her birthday cake every year. Lucky her! (I didn't have it so bad. My mom always got me a bag of chocolate covered raisins on mine.) But this recipe is so easy, you really should make it more than once a year!

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 32
• Yields: 32 bars

Ingredients

• 1  lb dates, chopped
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  cup water
• 3⁄4 cup  soft shortening
• 1  cup brown sugar
• 1 3⁄4 cups flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 cups oats

Directions

1. Cook dates, sugar and water in heavy saucepan to the consistency of jam. Let cool.
2. Cream shortening with the brown sugar.
3. Sift flour, soda, and salt into the creamed mixture.
4. Add oats and mix until well blended.
5. Put half of oat mixture in a greased 13x9x2 pan.
6. Press and flatten to cover the bottom.
7. Spread with date filling.
8. Cover with remaining oat mixture. Pat smooth.
9. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.