Date and Nut Bars

Ingredients

• 0.33 cups boiling water
• 2 cups dates , pitted and chopped
• 0.5 cups shortening
• 1 cup white sugar
• 0.13 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 0.75 teaspoons salt
• 0.13 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.25 teaspoons baking soda
• 0.5 cups chopped walnuts
• 0.25 cups confectioners' sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   In a small bowl, pour boiling water over dates, and set aside to cool. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 10x10 inch baking pan.

2. 2

   In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening and white sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the dates, including any water; mix well. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and baking soda; stir into the date mixture. Then stir in the nuts.

3. 3

   Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared 10x10 inch pan, and bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven. When cool, cut into bars, and roll each bar in confectioners' sugar.