My Grandmother’s Date Bars

Ingredients

3 cups dates

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 cup walnuts chopped- optional

1 3/4 cup King Arthur all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal

3/4 C Irish butter

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 t baking soda

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t nutmeg

1/8 t cloves

1/2 t salt

Directions

Oven 350º  8×8 buttered baking panned

Mix flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, baking soda,spices, and salt in medium bowl and set aside.

Add dates,water, and sugar over medium heat. Stirring constantly until mixture thick and begins to bubble. Cool and add walnuts if desired.

Gradually using fingers blend in the butter until all the ingredients are totally combined.

Place half of crumb mixture on bottom of pan and press until firm. Pour  in date mixture and spread. Sprinkle remaining crumble mixture and press down gently.

Bake 40-45 minutes for 8×8 pan and 25-30 minutes in 13×9.  Cool, run knife around edges of pan and then cut into bars.