Date-filled Oatmeal Bars

By SMorrissey

Originally from "Christmas Cookies"...a quick way to make oatmeal-date cookies..mmm!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 3/4 cup butter or 3/4 cup margarine
• 1 (8 ounce) package dates, pitted & chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water

Preparation

Step 1

1 Combine flour, oats, soda, salt, & brown sugar. 2 Cut butter in until it reaches the consistency of coarse meal. 3 Press half of mixture across the bottom of an ungreased 12x8x2 baking pan. 4 Combine dates, 1 c. sugar, and water in saucepan. 5 Cook on low until sugar dissolves, dates soften, and mixture is thick and mushy. 6 Spread date mixture over dough in pan. 7 Cover with remaining dough. 8 Bake at 325 for 40 min or until lightly browned. 9 Cut into 1"x2" bars while still warm; remove to wire racks to cool.