Date Bars
yields 1-1/2 dozen bars

1 1/2 cups chopped pitted dates
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
salt
1/2 cup whole natural almonds, chopped
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats, uncooked
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine

In a 2-qt saucepan over high heat, heat dates, orange juice, sugar & 1/4 teaspoon salt to boiling. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture is very thick. Remove from heat; stir in almonds.

Preheat oven to 375. Grease and flour a 9x9 baking pan. In a medium bowl, mix flour, oats, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. With a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Pat half of oat mixture into bottom of pan. Evenly spread date mixture on top of oat layer. Pat remaining oat mixture onto date layer. Bake 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pan on wire rack. When cold, cut into 18 pieces. Store in tightly covered container.

Enjoy!