BATTER:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or shortening
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups oatmeal
1 tsp. baking soda in 2 tsp. boiling water
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix ingredients well and put half of mixture into 9x13-inch cake pan. Set remaining half aside.

FILLING:

2 cups pitted cut dates
2/3 cup water
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. butter

Boil filling ingredients for 15 minutes. Cool and add to batter mix in pan. Put reserved crumbs on top.

Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.

Submitted by: Coral Phillips