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OT Date Bars, aka Matrimonial Cake
Okay, since it was asked for, here is a recipe for "date bars". However,
here in Western Canada, this is called Matrimonial Cake. No one knows exactly why, although there is lots of folk etymology. The most frequent explanation has to do with a sweet part in the middle of a rough part (sort of "for better for worse", but with the implication that "worse" is more plentiful). They were very popular in the West in the 1930s, when fresh fruit was just not available. They are a staple at every tea, and every bake sale. Really easy, actually. Matrimonial Cake 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 c. rolled oats (people use everything from organic long cooking, if you learned this in the 60s, to instant. Quick cooking is a nice compromise) , 1 c. packed brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. salt, 3/4 c. butter, at room temperature (my mother uses margarine, but go for the butter). Combine everything but the butter in a mixing bowl,. Work in the butter, by hand or with a pastry blender, until the whole thing is crumbly. Pat half of this into the bottom of an 8 or 9 inch square baking pan(depending on how thick you like them. Thicker is better, I think.) Filling: 2 c. chopped pitted dates (the solid block of dates that lives in the baking aisle works just fine--no need for the beautiful Medjool ones from the produce section), 1/2 c sugar (older recipes use more, but dates are sweet enough), 1 tsp lemon juice, 3/4 c. boiling water In a saucepan, cook all of these ingredients over medium heat until the dates are soft. Stir often. This takes about 15 minutes. (cooks differ on how smooth the filling should be--some cook it to a jam-like smoothness, some like a more organic lumpy filling with identifiable date bits.) Cool the filling a bit. Pour the filling over the crust, and sprinkle with the remaining oat mixture, patting it down a bit so everything sticks together. Bake it at 350F for about 30 minutes, or until it is nicely golden. People also make this with raisins, or figs, or, at Christmas, with minceme at. Dawne |
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Sounds absolutely yummy; I LOVE dates! It is already in my recipe folder.
Thanks, Dawne Gillian "Dawne Peterson" wrote in message ... Okay, since it was asked for, here is a recipe for "date bars". However, here in Western Canada, this is called Matrimonial Cake. No one knows exactly why, although there is lots of folk etymology. The most frequent explanation has to do with a sweet part in the middle of a rough part (sort of "for better for worse", but with the implication that "worse" is more plentiful). They were very popular in the West in the 1930s, when fresh fruit was just not available. They are a staple at every tea, and every bake sale |
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Joan, if your dates are too hard, just put them in the microwave for half a
minute - they'll soften up beautifully. Joyce in RSA. "Joan Erickson" wrote in message ... Dawne Peterson wrote: Okay, since it was asked for, here is a recipe for "date bars". Thanks, Dawne! I've been looking for a recipe for these (not very hard, mind you!) for years since I *love* these bars. I also have some ancient (read: hard) dates that would work perfectly! I think I might try cooking them before pitting, since they're almost too hard to chop up!!! -- Joan |
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