Maple-Date Bars

Note: Chill the dates and chop in food processor. Don't cook until too gummy or will be impossible to spread. I used a 9X9 pan so they were thicker and cut down a little on the white sugar because the filling is plenty sweet.

1 3/4 cups finely chopped pitted dates (about 12 ounces)
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1 cup regular oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray

Combine dates, water, and maple syrup in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; cook 12 minutes or until most liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. (Mixture will look like jam.) Stir in rind; cool completely.
Preheat oven to 400°.
Beat sugar and butter with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir flour mixture into sugar mixture (mixture will be crumbly). Press 2 cups flour mixture into bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Spread date mixture over flour mixture. Sprinkle with remaining flour mixture. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
Yield 20 servings (serving size: 1 bar)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 162(28% from fat); FAT 5g (sat 2.3g,mono 2g,poly 0.3g); PROTEIN 1.6g; CHOLESTEROL 12mg; CALCIUM 14mg; SODIUM 78mg; FIBER 1.8g; IRON 0.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 29.5g
Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2005