Delicious Date Filled Squares

Ingredients

• Makes (1) 9x9 inch baking dish

Filling

• 2 cups chopped dates
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts or pecans)

Crust

• 1 3/4 all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups rolled oats (not instant)
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
• *( To make the sour milk you add 1/2 Tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice to room temperature milk).
• Just pour in the vinegar or lemon and in a few minutes the milk will curdle.

Directions

Squares

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Grease a 9 x 9 inch pan with a little butter.
3. Place the chopped dates into the 1 cup water in a saucepan on the stove top and bring to a boil.
4. Stir in the sugar and chopped nuts.
5. Continue cooking until thickened, stirring constantly.
6. Shut off, set aside and let cool.
7. In a bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt and stir in the rolled oats.
8. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed.
9. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk (or sour milk). Mix until well combined.
10. Press half of this mixture into the prepared pan.
11. Cover with the date filling.
12. Top with the remaining dough and pat smooth.
13. Place into the preheated oven and bake 35 to 40 minutes.
14. Remove from the oven to a cooling rack.
15. Let cool and cut into squares.
16. Store in an airtight container.