Crumb

• 3 sticks of butter, softened
• 2 cups of dark brown sugar
• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 t kosher salt
• 1 t baking soda
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats 
• 1 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped

Date Filling

*If you want more of the filling you could add another 1/2 pound of dates, no need for more sugar but add another 1/2 cup water.

• 1 pound of medjool dates, pitted and chopped
• 2 T sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water

Preheat the oven to 375º. Mix the dates, sugar and water in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles jam. Let the date mixture cool.

Butter a 13 x 9 x 2 baking pan. Mix the bar ingredients, not including the date filling or the nuts, with your hands into a crumbly mixture. Add the chopped nuts and mix to combine. Press half of the crumb mixture into the bottom of the pan. Spread the cooled date filling over the crumb mixture. Top the dates with the remaining crumb mixture, pressing down lightly on the top crumb. Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.  While warm, cut into bars.