Date And Prune Squares - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 cups pitted dates, chopped
1 cup pitted prunes, chopped
1 cup boiling water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons cold water
1/2 cup almonds, chopped (optional)

Preparation

In a covered bowl, let the dates and prunes steep in the boiling water for about 10 minutes, to soften, then transfer to a saucepan.
Add the sugar and let simmer for about 10 minutes, until thickened.
Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg and let cool.
In a food processor, pulse together the oats, flour, sugar, salt and baking soda until the oats are chopped, 5 to 10 pulses.
Pulse in the butter until crumbly, then pulse in the cold water until the mixture comes together.
Press two-thirds into a greased 13\" x 9\" cake pan and spread with the date mixture.
Mix the remaining oat mixture with the almonds, if using, and sprinkle over the date mixture, pressing lightly.
Bake in a 350 degree F oven until light golden, 35 to 40 minutes.
Let cool in the pan before cutting into squares.