Date And Apricot Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. chopped dates
2 c. mashed cooked apricots (dried or canned)
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. apricot juice
3/4 c. soft shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1 3/4 c. sifted flour
1/2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. rolled oats
1 tsp. vanilla

Preparation

Mix together in saucepan the first 4 ingredients.
Cook over low heat, stirring often, until thickened (5 minutes).
Cool. For crust, mix together thoroughly the shortening and brown sugar. Sift together and stir in flour, soda, salt, oats and vanilla. Mix thoroughly using hands.
Press 1/2 of this crumb mixture in greased and floured 13 x 9-inch pan.
Spread with cooled filling. Cover with remaining mix.
Pat lightly.
Bake 35 minutes at 350\u00b0. While warm, cut in bars and remove from pan.