Date Squares (Matrimonial Squares)

Good, wholesome made with a tasty date mixture between two layers of a rolled oats, flour, and butter.  They are ever so much better when made with butter not margarine!

Ingredients:
12 oz dates, chopped
1 cup boiling water
3 Tab boiling orange juice
3 Tab brown sugar
1½ tsp vanilla
3/4 tsp almond flavouring

1⅔ cups rolled oats (not instant)
1 cup + 2 Tab flour
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp bicarb
¼ tsp salt
Scant 1 Tab grated orange rind
1 cup cold butter

Method:
Assemble ingredients. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9” square pan with parchment paper.

In saucepan, combine dates, boiling water and orange juice, and brown sugar.
Let stand 15 minutes.

Over medium-low heat bring date mixture to a boil and boil gently, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens – about 3-5 minutes.  If it thickens too fast, add 2 Tabs water, one tablespoon at a time.

Meanwhile, in large bowl combine rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, bicarb, salt, and grated orange rind. Cut, or grate, in the cold butter until mixture becomes coarse crumbs.

Press between a scant ⅔ of the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.  Spread the slightly cooled date mixture over crumb base.  Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over date filling.

Bake until crumbs are golden, about 25 – 30 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on wire rack.  Remove from pan and cut into squares.