Include this scrumptious recipe in your holiday baking. My mom’s friend Joanna shared this recipe with me, and if you like dates, you will love this cookie.

Date Bars

Ingredients: Small amount of vegetable shortening for preparing pan Batter: 3 large eggs 1 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1½ cups dates, coarsely chopped 1 cup walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped Topping: ¼ sup confectioners (powdered) sugar Tip: Use standard measuring cups and spoons or scales for accurate measuring. Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare one 13x9x2 inch oblong pan; lightly grease the pan with shortening. Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla;use an electric mixer or wooden spoon and beat togetheruntil thoroughly mixed. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir until well mixed. Stir in dates and nuts. Bake:  Spread the batter evenly into the baking pan. Bake 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. While the cookie is still warm, cut into 1 inch by 3 inch bars. Tip: My favorite tool to cut bar cookies is a stainless steeldough scraper; simply push the dough scraper straight down into the cookie for straight cuts. Or use a pizza cutter or small kitchen knife to cut the cookie into bars. Topping: Using a fine-mesh sieve, dust the tops of the still warm bars with confectioners sugar. Leave bars in pan to cool; place baking pan on a wire cooling rack to cool.  Makes about 3 dozen bars TheBakingPan.com________________________