mum's date cookies and squares

Ingredients For mum's date cookies and squares

• DATE FILLING
• 1 lb

  chopped dates
• 1 c

  cold water
• 2 Tbsp

  brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2

  fresh orange (juice and grated rind)
• 1 tsp

  lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
• DATE COOKIES
• 1

  date filling recipe
• 1/2 c

  sugar
• 1/2 c

  butter
• 1/2 c

  lard (yes, lard!) or you can use 1 cup butter total, but they don't turn out the same)
• 1/2 c

  milk
• 1 tsp

  vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 c

  all purpose flour
• 2 tsp

  baking powder
• 1 tsp

  baking soda
• 2 c

  rolled oats
• DATE SQUARES
• 1

  date filling recipe
• 1 1/2 c

  cake and pastry flour
• 1 tsp

  baking powder
• 1 tsp

  baking soda
• 1/4 tsp

  salt
• 1 c

  butter (just chilled, not cold or soft)
• 1 c

  brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 c

  rolled oats