DATE SQUARES

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups rolled quick oats
1 cup light-brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Date Paste (recipe follows)

DIRECTIONS

1 - Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2 - Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch pan, and set aside.
3 - In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda. Add
butter, and blend with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4 - Transfer two-thirds of the dough into prepared pan, and press into bottom and up sides.
5 - Spread date paste over bottom layer of the dough.
6 - Cover with remaining dough.
7 - Bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes.
8 - Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Invert on to a plate, then back onto a cutting board. Cut into 2-inch squares.

DATE PASTE

INGREDIENTS

2 cups dates, pitted and diced
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Pinch of salt
2 cup water

DIRECTIONS

1 - Place dates in small saucepan with 1 cup of water, lemon zest, and juice.
2 - Cook over medium heat until soft, about 12 minutes.
3 - Remove from heat, cool completely before using.

COMMENTS

I actually got this off of a Martha Steward cooking show one day. I've made it several times - and it si delicious, and very heavy.