Apple-date-nut Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 36
• 2 large granny smith apples, peeled,cored and chopped fine
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 1/2 cups pitted dates, chopped
• 1 cup butter, cut into bits and softened
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped walnuts
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 375 degrees f.
• 2 butter a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
• 3 in a saucepan, combine apples, sugar, lemon juice and water and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes, or until apples are tender.
• 4 add dates and simmer, uncovered, stirring and mashing dates, for 3-5 minutes, or until dates are soft and mixture is almost smooth and let puree cool.
• 5 in a bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, salt, flour, walnuts and cinnamon and blend well.
• 6 press half of flour mixture evenly into prepared pan.
• 7 spread puree over, and crumble remaining flour mixture over puree, pressing lightly to form an even layer.
• 8 bake for 35-40 minutes, or until golden.
• 9 let cool completely.
• 10 cut into 36 bars.