I had a hankering for date squares this week after seeing some in a bakery, and wanting them, but then thinking, hey! I can make those. I froze half the pan for later, to keep me from eating them all when I get confused by all the oatmeal and think I am eating something good for me. Taste good? yes Good for me? probably not
Date Squares1 1/4 C rolled oats
1 1/2 C flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 C brown sugar
3/4 C margarine
Date filling:
2 C cut up dates
1/2 C white sugar
1 C water
1 tsp vanilla
1 T butter/marg
Prepare filling: In a saucepan, cook dates, sugar and water, stirring often until mixture is thickened, about 5-10 minutes. Add butter and vanilla, Cool.
Combine oats, flour sugar and soda. Work in softened margarine with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Spread half the rolled oat mixture in the bottom of a 9x9" pan patting down, cover with date filling, cover with remaining oat mixture. Pat lightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Yummy. Oats - good for you. Dates - they sound good for you. I'm not actually sure what they are. Like a prune, right? I say just focus on those 2 things and forget about the massive quantities of sugar and butter!
ReplyDeleteNot a big fan of dates myself...but anything with butter and sugar can't be all bad!
ReplyDeleteI think this sounds great! I've never had dates before, I'll have to try them! Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteYum!
ReplyDeleteI've been freezing portions of deserts lately too. It's surprising how long cookies last, for example, when you freeze most of them and only take a few out at a time.
charley - I console myslef with the fact that they aren't as bad for me as some other things, and I'm probably getting some fiber.
ReplyDeletestephanie - I always thought I didn't like dates but then I realized I did. I prefer them to raisins in food. It's the oatmeal that really sells these squares
kristina - never had dates? You'll have to try these squares then. I have another recipe for Frying pan Cookies with dates and rice krispies that are really good.
lori l - the only part of that plan that falls down for me is that I almost prefer frozen chocolate chip cookies, so I gobble them right from the freezer.
These sound delicious. And I hope you'll share with us the recipe for Frying Pan Cookies.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Charley - let's focus on the oats and dates!
I tried that freezing things to keep from eating them routine, but soon discovered they taste just as good frozen solid! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteP.S. some of your readers never had dates. One of the world's best desserts is an English one called Sticky Toffee Pudding, which is not what we would call a pudding at all ("pudding" in England is a synonym for "dessert."), but a date cake with caramel sauce poured onto it while warm--served with custard sauce on top (the caramel oozes into the cake by way of many holes punched into it). I'm sure it's very nutritious--all those dates.
hmmm...I bet that would be just as yummy with figs, fresh from the tree...gotta try that this year; thanks for sharin' his recipe.
ReplyDelete