Ingredients
2 cups Old Fashion Rolled Oats
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon plus an extra pinch of salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/3 cups packed Brown Sugar
1 cup Butter, softened
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts
Date filling:
2 cups Medjool dates (~1 lb. or 24 dates, pitted)
1 cup water
1/3 cup packed Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Preparation
Combine dates, water and 1/3 cup brown sugar in a saucepan and cook over medium heat mashing dates till thickened. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Cover and cool.
In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients and mix in butter with a fork(or very clean hands) till crumbly. Press 1/2 mixture over the bottom of a 9"x13" glass pan. Spread date filling over base, then pat the remaining crumb mixture on top. Bake for 25 minutes till top is lightly browned. COOL before cutting into bars.
You may cut them into bite size or larger bars.