BETTY CROCKER DATE AND NUT SQUARES

2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cut-up walnuts
2 cups finely cut-up dates

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Thoroughly grease an 8-by-8-inch baking pan.

Beat the eggs until foamy, then beat in the sugar and vanilla until well blended.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt onto a piece of waxed paper. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the egg mixture and blend well. Stir the cut-up walnuts and dates into the batter. Turn into the prepared baking pan and place in the oven.

Bake until a skewer inserted near the center comes out without crumbs adhering to it, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Cut the cake into 2-inch squares.

Let the squares cool before removing them from the pan.

If desired, dip the tops of each square in powdered sugar and shake off excess.

Makes 16 squares
Source: Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book, 1950; reprinted 1998