Faye Buoy's Date Bars

1 pound pitted dates 1 cup water 1/2 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar

1-1/2 cups flour 1-3/4 cups oatmeal 1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:
Cook dates and water until thick. Preheat oven to 350°. Cream together butter and sugar. Add flour, oatmeal, and baking soda. Mix together until crumbly. Put half of this mixture in bottom of a greased 8x8-inch baking dish. Then pour date mixture over top, and finally, sprinkle the remaining crumbs evenly on top. Bake in a 350° oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Serve with whipped cream.

Notes:
Faye Buoy contributed this recipe to the Jolly Neighbors Extension Club of Rose, Nebraska, for a hand-written cookbook that they made during the early 1960's. I have expanded the directions a little because all the recipes were greatly condensed to fit on one side of a 3x5" recipe card. The Buoys lived east of Rose. We were in 4-H with the Buoy kids.