1 c. brown sugar, packed
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. Crisco
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. quick cook-oatmeal

FILLING MIXTURE:

1 lb. dates, cutup
1 1/2 c. water
1/4 c. sugar

To a pan, add dates, water and 1/4 cup sugar and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together the brown sugar, butter and Crisco. Add to this the flour, salt, baking soda and oatmeal. Press half of this mixture into a 9 x 13 x 2 inch pan. Spread the filling mixture. Top with remaining crumb mixture, pressing it lightly into filling.

Bake until light brown, about 25-30 minutes. Cut into bars while warm. Makes 3 dozen. Variation - Substitute 1 cup of jam for filling if you would like to make jam bars.