Aunt Theresa's Date Bars

Very good!!

Date filling: combine 3 cups cut up pitted dates , 1 / 4 cup sugar and 1 1 / 2 cups water in a saucepan.

Cook 10 minutes over low heat , stirring frequently until thickened.

Prepare date filling.

While filling is cooking , preheat oven to 400.

Grease a 13x9 baking pan.

Mix brown sugar , butter and shortning until blended.

Stir in flour , oatmeal , salt and baking soda until crumbly.

Press half of the crumbly mixture onto bottom of pan.

Spoon date filling evenly over crumbs , spreading carefully to edges of pan.

Sprinkle remaining crumbly mixture over filling.

Press lightly.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until light brown.

Cut into 2 x 1 1 / 2 inch bars while still warm.

pitted dates, sugar, water, brown sugar, butter, shortening, flour, quick-cooking oatmeal, salt, baking soda