Bars and Squares
Christmas Cookies

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 (8-ounce) package pitted dates, chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water

Combine flour, oats, soda, salt, and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press half of mixture into an ungreased 12x8x2 inch baking pan.

Combine dates, 1 cup sugar, and water in a medium saucepan; cook over low heat until sugar dissolves and dates are soft. (Mixture should be thick and mushy.) Spread mixture evenly over dough in pan; cover with remaining oats mixture. Bake at 325° for 40 minutes or until lightly browned. Cut into 2×1 inch bars while warm. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Yield: 4 dozen.

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