Oats And Date Slices

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 500 g dates, chopped fine (1 lb)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• 375 g all-purpose flour, unsifted (12 oz)
• 225 g oats (uncooked flakes, 7 oz)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, soft
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 100 ml water (more or less)

Recipe

• 1 boil the dates, sugar and water over medium heat until thick, stirring often. let cool.
• 2 set oven on 180 deg c/350 deg f.
• 3 mix the flour, oats and salt.
• 4 rub butter into the flour mixture until well incorporated.
• 5 add sugar and mix in well.
• 6 dissolve the baking soda and cream of tartar in a little of the water, and add to flour-sugar mixture.
• 7 now add just enough water to form a pliable dough which can be rolled out -- not sticky and not too dry.
• 8 divide dough into two. roll out each half between wax paper (or use flour to roll out). remove paper.
• 9 each half should be about 12" x 12" -- pat or roll into square shapes as even and nice as possible.
• 10 spread date mixture evenly over one dough half, right up to the edges.
• 11 press other square lightly on to the date filling. trim edges carefully with a serrated knife.
• 12 cut into neat squares of about 2"/5cm x 1"/3 cm.
• 13 place on greased cookie sheet, and bake for 20 - 25 minutes in the preheated oven.
• 14 cool on a wire rack. about 3 doz cookies.