Recipe: Tea Time Date Bars (using Spry shortening)

TEA TIME DATE BARS

1/3 cup boiling water
2 cups chopped dates
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup Spry (vegetable shortening)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped nuts
powdered sugar (for topping)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10x10x2-inch baking pan.

Pour boiling water over chopped dates; cool.

Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg; set aside.

Combine shortening, sugar, and eggs. Add cooled date mixture and blend. Add dry ingredients and blend well. Add nuts and blend. Spread mixture in prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Cool in pan.

Cut into bars. Sprinkle powdered sugar over top. Store in covered container.

Source: Elizabeth Riviere