DRY INGREDIENTS:

1 c. brown sugar
1 1/4 c. flour
1 1/2 c. oatmeal
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 c. (1 stick) butter
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)

FILLING:

8 oz. fresh dates, cut into cubes
1 tbsp. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 c. hot tap water
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Knead the dry ingredients into medium bowl. Cut dates up into non-stick saucer pan. Put flour and sugar into pan and toss dates, covering them with sugar and flour. Then pour hot tap water over dates, sugar and flour. Put on low flame and stir until mixture thickens. Take off burner. Mix in vanilla extract. Then let filling cool.

Put dry mixture into greased 9 1/2 x 12 inch glass dish. Leave some mixture on the side. (Make sure when putting dry mix into greased dish, there is some pressed onto sides of dish.) Pour filling on top of dry mixture and sprinkle the rest of mixture on top of filling. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool and cut into squares.