The Ultimate Date Bars

Date Filling (recipe follows)
1 cup butter or margarine softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Date Filling
2 (8 ounce) packages pitted dates chopped
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
Prepare Date Filling; cool.
Heat oven to 400.
Mix butter and brown sugar in large bowl with spoon.
Stir in remaining ingredients. Press half of the oat mixture in ungreased rectangular pan, 13 9 2 inches. Spread with filling. Top with remaining oat mixture; press gently into filling.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown. Cool 30 minutes. Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows while warm.
Date Filling:
Mix all ingredients in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over low heat 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened.