COOKIES:

1 c. shortening
2 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream shortening and sugar together; add eggs and beat mixture until fluffy. Add flour, salt, soda, vanilla and cinnamon and beat until smooth. Divide dough into 2 balls and chill for 4 hours. Roll to 1/4-inch thick rectangle and spread with the following filling.

FILLING:

1 lb. dates
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. water

Mix ingredients and boil, constantly stirring, until smooth and thick. When cool, spread on rolled dough. Roll dough like jelly roll and chill in refrigerator for 3 hours. Slice in rings 1/8-inch thick and place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: Approximately 3 dozen.