For dessert, Colleen prepared a Oatmeal Dates Squares for the South Arm Seniors Kitchen.

Celia was so happy because she loves Oatmeal Dates Squares. She always asks her friend to make her some when she craves for it. Now, she can make it herself.

Dates are the fruit of the date palm and are high in potassium, magnesium, folate, as well as containing many other nutrients. They also have dietary fiber and are sometimes used to prevent constipation. They have very high sugar content and should only be eaten in small quantities.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 1/2 cups rolled oats or quick cooking oats
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups chopped pitted dates
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water

Source: via Colleen

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F (300F for convection oven). Grease baking pan. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter.

Press firmly half of the mixture into baking pan, should not be more than 3/4 inch thick. Reserve the remaining 1/2 of the oat mixture for topping.

Combine water and dates over low heat and cook briefly to form a paste. Stir constantly. Cool for 10 minutes.

Spread the dates paste over the oatmeal base in the pan.

Cover with the remaining crumbly mixture; do not press the topping. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes until lightly brown. Cut into squares while warm (not hot) and cool before removing from pan.