Bubby's Date Bars Recipe

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Prepare Date Filling: Combine dates and water in a saucepan. Cook, stirring over low heat until thick (about 10 minutes) Cool; set aside.
3. Mix soft butter and brown sugar thoroughly.
4. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; stir into butter mixture.
5. Add oats; mix.
6. Place half of the crumb mixture in a greased 13 x 9 baking pan. Press and flatten to cover bottom of pan.
7. Spread with cooled Date Filling.
8. Cover with remaining crumb mixture and pat lightly to smooth surface.
9. Bake 25-30 minutes until lightly browned.
10. While warm, cut into bars and remove from pan. Makes about 18 1 1/2 x 2 inch bars.
11. NOTE: Though I didn't write it into the recipe, sometimes I add a little lemon rind and lemon juice to the date filling.