Date Filled Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. chopped dates
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. water
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. flour
1 c. oatmeal
1/2 tsp. baking soda
8 Tbsp. butter

Preparation

Combine dates, 1/4 cup sugar and water in small saucepan. Cook 5 minutes, until mixture boils and thickens.
Remove from heat; add extract.
Cool.
Combine remaining ingredients in separate bowl along with remaining 1/2 cup sugar.
Sprinkle half of mixture in bottom of 8-inch baking pan.
Cover with date mixture.
Cover with other half of oatmeal mixture.
Press down slightly.
Bake 30 minutes.
Cut while warm.