FILLING:

3 c. dates, cut up
1/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. water

CRUST:

3/4 c. shortening (part butter)
1 c. brown sugar
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. rolled oats

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch pan. Mix filling ingredients together and set aside. Mix shortening with brown sugar. Stir in rest of ingredients. Place 1/2 of mixture in cake pan. Press and flatten to cover bottom of pan. Spread in filling. Cover with remaining crust mixture. Bake until lightly brown (25 to 30 minutes). While warm, cut into bars and remove from pan.