Time: 25 minutes. Temperature: 400 degrees.

For Filling: Boil pitted dates with water and sugar for 5 minutes. Stir constantly to prevent sticking. Crush dates while stirring.

Batter: Sift flour and soda together. Add the oatmeal and brown sugar. Cut the shortening into the dry ingredients as for pie crust.

Spread half of this mixture into greased 9 x 13 pan. Pat down. Cover with date mixture.

Put remainder of crumbs over dates and press down again. Bake 25 minutes at 400 degrees.

Cut into squares before cool.