Categories: Cookies, Desserts 
      Yield: 12 servings 
  
      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 400ÜF. 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.