Help yourself to this luxuriously moist, old-fashioned date bar, accented with orange peel and buttery orange frosting.

BARS:

8 oz. pkg. chopped dates
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. Land O Lakes sweet cream butter
1/2 c. water
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. chopped pecans
3/4 c. milk
1/4 c. orange juice (juice from 1 orange or prepared orange juice)
2 eggs
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. grated orange peel

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 15 x 10 inch jelly-roll pan. In heavy 3 quart sauce pan combine dates, sugar, butter and water. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until dates soften (5 to 8 minutes). Remove from heat. Add remaining ingredients. By hand, stir until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes). Spread into greased pan. Bake near center of 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely; spread with frosting.

FROSTING:

3 c. confectioners' sugar
1/3 c. Land O Lakes sweet cream butter, softened
3 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. grated orange peel

In 1 1/2 quart mixer bowl combine all frosting ingredients. Beat at medium speed, scraping sides of bowl often, until light and fluffy (1 to 2 minutes). Yields 4 dozen.