Date Bars

Streusel:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 1/2 cups oatmeal (not the instant packages)
1 cup butter (melted)
1/2 cup nuts (pecans or walnuts)(chopped)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9 x 13 inch pan.

In a large bowl mix the flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in the brown sugar until well mixed. Drizzle the melted butter over the flour mixture and mix well. Fold in the nuts. Pat a little more than half in the bottom of the prepared pan.

Filling:
2 cups dates
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Put the dates, water, sugar and vanilla in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue until the filling becomes thick. Pour over the streusel and cover with the rest of the streusel. Bake for 45 minutes. Cool and serve.