Date Bars

From the kitchen of: Dawn Corbin
½ cup shortening
¼ cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups wheat or white flour
½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Date Filling mix
½ cup chopped walnuts
10 oz. package dates cut up
¼ cup sugar
1+½ cup water

Instructions:
Heat oven to 400ºF. Make Date filling by combining ingredients and heating in sauce pan over low heat till thickens, about 10 minutes stirring often. Set aside to cool. Mix shortening, butter, & brown sugar with mixer till creamy. Add dry ingredients stir till well blended. Pat about ½ of mixture into well greased 13 X 9 inch pan. Cover with filling gently add the rest of batter mixture, press lightly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes till lightly browned. Cut while warm and remove from pan. *** note if you use chopped dates do not add sugar!!!