I've got to update my 'favourite blogs' list.  I should do it right now.
In my internet travels over the last year and a half or so I have come across many sites that have interested me.  Some briefly and others have somehow managed to connect with me.  Well... the person writing the blog has somehow connected with me.  I feel connected to them... I don't know... it's weird.  Like I'm kinda reading someone's journal but it's what they want me to read but I still like them and I kinda think the same goofy things and I think that if we had the chance to hang out that we might get on well and maybe be cool friends that could be totally rad and laugh and shop together and do yoga classes and then our nails.  I don't know.... it's weird.  That's how I've grown to feel about this blog.
I just like her vibe and her food and that she likes/practices yoga and is a veggie (even though I'm only a wannabe) and lives in a cold place too and has kids... like I said... it's weird.
Dana blogged this post about date squares and how the recipe was all kinda jacked and how then she fixed it but was still pissed because, well, when you pay for a recipe book then the recipes should kinda work, right?  I hadn't really thought about dates squares before but I totally love them when I go to the bakery.  (BTW, I've had it with all the well known cafe/bakery crap out there.  I'm sorry... tastes like crap.  Hey Big Coffee Chains (you know who you are).  If you really want to boost the local economy then how about getting real, local bakeries to bake crap for you and selling it in your stores... like this place does?  Just a thought.)  So, I got the idea into my head.  It's been there for a while.  Just kinda bouncing around in the fog that is me. Waiting for a day when the fog may clear, the clouds may open and just maybe date squares would burst through.


Today, I made date squares.
I didn't make date squares with oatmeal, 'cause the big flaky stuff that I have didn't appeal and I don't have anything right now to whizz them down to a flour (don't ask about my kitchen gadget situation right now, ok).  I didn't make them with desiccated coconut 'cause that stuff makes me want to hurl (if the idea doesn't make you feel like lunch is coming back up then by all means add some in - I'll add it to the recipe).


I made the dates squares that Dana made first, and fixed.  So now I just want to thank Dana for fixing the  jacked date square recipe and not making date squares with oatmeal.  It was really awesome that you went through all that for me... I appreciate it.  And the date squares taste really good.


Date Squares (adapted from Dana Treat adapted from Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey - I never get the words in the right order)

Date Stuff:
1 lb of dates, pitted and chopped (I used organic Medjool)
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water

Dough:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup icing sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
(1 cup desiccated coconut)

Combine all the 'Date Stuff'' in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.  Turn down to low heat and let it simmer for about 15 minutes or so, until the mixture has boiled down a bit and is quite gooey.  Set aside.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
Combine the flour and baking powder in a bowl and set aside.
In another bowl cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add in the vanilla and salt and whisk together for a minute or so.
Gradually add in the flour, mixing well with each addition (I added a cup or so at a time) until all the flour is added.  (Add the coconut at this point if you wish).  The mixture should form a dough if you squeeze it together into a ball but still crumble easily.
Press about a 1/3 of the dough into the bottom of the greased baking pan.
Bake the pressed dough for about 20 minutes or until just barely browning on the edges.
Remove and cool slightly.
With a potato masher (the gadget situation again), mash the dates to get out any lumps.  Pour the dates over the bottom dough layer.  Spread it evenly.
With the rest of the flour (you might have to make little balls with it in your hands first - that's what I did) sprinkle it in largish chunks over the dates.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until the edges are just nicely browned.  Feel free to sprinkle just a little more desiccated coconut over the top if you feel so inclined.
makes about 24 bars or 28 or so if you cut them small.