3 c. quick cooking oatmeal
1 c. shortening
2 c. brown sugar
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. whole dates
Sugar to sweeten

Date filling: Boil dates in enough water to cover. Boil until water is gone. Add sugar to taste sweet. Mash dates well and add vanilla. Make a crumbly mixture of the oatmeal, shortening, brown sugar, flour, salt and soda. Press half of mixture into the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Spread date filling on top and then add remaining dry mixture on top and pat down. Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 an hour. Cool and cut into bars.