Party Date Bars

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.02

Title: Party Date Bars
Categories: Cookies, Bar
Yield: 24 bars

----------------------------------FILLING----------------------------------
2 c Pitted dates
1/2 c Sugar
1 Orange; grated peel
1/4 c Orange juice
1/2 c Chopped nutmeats

---------------------------------CRUMB BASE---------------------------------
1 c Sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 ts Soda
1/2 ts Salt
1 c Quaker Oats, uncooked
-- (quick or old-fashioned)
1 c Brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c Butter or margarine; melted

For filling, combine dates, sugar, orange peel and orange juice in
medium-sized saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally
until thickened. Cool. Stir in nutmeats.

For base, sift together flour, soda and salt. Add oats and sugar; mix
well. Stir in butter; mix until crumbly. Firmly press 2/3 of mixture
into greased 8-inch square baking pan. Spread filling evenly over
crumb base. Top with remaining crumb mixture; pack lightly. Bake in
preheated moderate oven (350 F.) 30 to 35 minutes. Cool; cut in bars.

Source: Our Favorites for family and friends
Reprinted with permission from The Quaker Oats Company
Electronic format courtesy of Karen Mintzias

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