Best Ever Date Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Filling
2 cups pitted dates
1/2 cup sugar
1 grated orange, zest of
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Crumb Base
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Quaker Oats (I never worry about whether they're quick cooking or not! I just dump 'em in!)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted

Preparation

For filling, combine all filling ingredients except for nuts in medium sized saucepan.
Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally til thickened.
Cool.
Stir in nuts.
For base, sift together flour, soda and salt.
Add oats and sugar.
Mix well.
Stir in butter.
Mix til crumbly.
Press 2/3 of mixture into greased 8\" square pan.
Spread filling evenly over flour mixture.
Top with remaining mixture.
Pack light.
Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
Cool completely!(Very important).
Cut into bars.