Dutch Apple Crumb Bars

-----CRUST----- 1 1/2 c Flour

1/3 c Sugar

1/4 tsp Salt

1/2 c Cold unsalted butter

1 Egg yolk

2 1/2 tbsp Cold water

-----FILLING AND TOPPING----- 3 c Peeled cored and chopped

Apples 1/2 c Chopped -- pitted dates

1/4 c Flour

1/3 c Rolled oats

1/3 c Packed light brown sugar

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Pinch of salt 1/4 c Cold unsalted butter

Cut into 4 pieces

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9x9 inch pan. Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add butter in pieces and process to make a fine meal. Blend yolk and water. Pour over dry ingredients and process until damp crumbs form. Pat crumbs into bottom and halfway up sides of pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Mix apples, dates, sugar, and lemon juice. Spread evenly over crust. Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add butter and rub it to make damp crumbs. Cover apples with topping and pat gently. Bake 40 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely before slicing. From Farmer`s Almanac Cookie Lovers Calendar 1997