Date-Oatmeal Bars

1 c All-purpose flour

1/2 ts Salt

1/2 c Firmly packed light brown

-sugar 1/3 c Margarine

1 c Uncooked quick-cooking

-oatmeal --------------------------------DATE FILLING-------------------------------- 2 c Chopped pitted dates

1 c Water

2 tb Sugar

1. Preheat oven to 400?F. Grease 9x9x2 inch square pans.

2. Simmer uncovered, dates, water and sugar 7-10 minutes until thick.

Cool. 3. Sift flour and salt together. Add Brown Sugar. Using a pastry

blender, cut in margarine until the size of small peas. Mix in oatmeal. Pack half the mixture in to the bottom of the pan; top with the date mixture. Add remaining oatmeal mixture to form top layer. 4. Bake 45-50 minutes until tan on top. Cool upright in pan on a wire rack

and cut into bars.