Tasty Date Squares Have a Family History

“This recipe was received by me in 1939 from a cousin living in Chatham, Ontario, Canada,” Phyllis I. Beam writes. “This is a recipe she received from her grandmother and had been using it for several years. Needless to say, this recipe must be well over 100 years old and is still delicious today.”

DATE SQUARES

1 pound dates, pitted and chopped

1 cup boiling water

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup butter or margarine

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 1/4 cups sifted flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup walnuts, chopped

Cook dates with boiling water and granulated sugar until very pasty, 10 to 15 minutes. Cream butter with brown sugar until light. Mix in flour, baking soda and oats. Reserve 1 cup mixture for topping.

Pat remaining mixture in greased 8-inch square pan, using palm of hand to spread evenly. Add walnuts to date mixture and spread over first layer. Add remaining mixture on top, pressing firmly. Bake at 325 degrees or until browned, about 1 hour. Cool on rack. Cut into squares. Makes about 16 squares.

--PHYLLIS I. BEAM

Mission Hills