Let's Make a Date (cookie, that is!)

While eating my homemade Greek yoghurt ( yes, I am still making that each week) and muesli this morning, I noticed bits of dates in the cereal. Yummy! So I have a couple of date cookie recipes from Just Plain Cooking for you today.

Date Nut Crunches (Memaw's)

3/4 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

3 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups oatmeal

1 1/2 cups chopped dates

1 cup chopped nuts

Combine shortening, sugar, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.

Sift together flour, soda, and salt and blend into creamy mixture.

Stir in oatmeal, dates, and nuts.

Chill dough for 1 to 2 hours.

Roll dough into balls about the size of a walnut. Place balls on greased baking sheet. Flatten with bottom of glass dipped in flour.

Bake in 375 degrees F oven for 10 - 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Date Squares (Memaw's)

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup chopped nuts

2 cups finely chopped dates

Beat eggs until foamy. Stir sugar and vanilla into eggs.

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together and combine with sugar and egg mixture.

Mix in nuts and dates.

Pour mixture into well-greased 8 x 8 x 2 inch pan.

Bake in 325 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until done and top has a "dark?dull?dual?"crust.

Cut into squares while still warm. Cool and remove from pan.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

(I still have plenty of silicone baking goods to use as prizes for those who can help me transcribe these recipes. Did Memaw mean dark, dull, dual, or whatever in the above recipe when referring to the crust? I can't make out what she means. And, yes, you can phone or email her for the verification. Just let me know so that I can correct this ambiguity.)