Date Squares

My family really enjoys these timeless favorites, healthy and easy to make. I double the recipe.

Ingredients

* 1 cup flour
* 1/2 tsp. salt
* 1 tsp. baking soda
* 2 1/2 cups oats
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 3/4 cup melted margarine

Date paste:
1 cup or 1/2 lb. dates
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions

Mix together first 6 ingredients. Dice dates and add water. Cook until tender. Add brown sugar and cook until thick. Put one-half of oat mixture in greased 12x8 inch pan. Press down. Spread with date filling. Top with remaining oat mixture and press down. Bake 20 minutes at 375°. Cut in squares while warm. Cool in pan. Yields 24 squares.

Nutritional analysis per square:

* Calories: 182
* Cholesterol: 0 mg.
* Fat: 6 g.
* Sodium: 133 mg.
* Calories from fat: 30%

From Rhode Island Hospital's Healthy Cooker

Hymn History

Imagine with me back to the year 1746. A ship is docking on the coast of West Africa. Its purpose is to snatch unsuspecting people and sell them as slaves in the far off countries. The captain of this ship is known far and wide for his debauchery, vulgarity and blasphemy. But one day in 1748, while reading the book "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis, our captain comes face to face with his sin and turns his life over to Jesus, the Savior of sinners. Our captain is John Newton. After his conversion and dedication to Christ, he became a pastor and hymn writer. His most famous of hymns, "Amazing Grace", is a testimonial of his conversion to Christ.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Thru many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Then when we'd first begun.

More then the Classic

My teenagers were asking, rather nagging me to make ricekrispies, thank goodness the classic recipe is on the top flap of the box. I never remember the right amounts, and if I make it out of my head, the mixture tends to have more butter then is called for, (not healthy).

My daughter mixed all of the ingredients together, but could not handle the sticky mess that was forming. Mom to the rescue. I find scooping the sticky mess into cake pans simple. Well, not for my teen.

Check out the ricekrispie website for some other creative ideas for the classic sticky mess. Here is an easy July 1, Canada Day treat!