Canadian Matrimonial Cake Food

CANADIAN MATRIMONIAL CAKE

Steps:

• Filling: In saucepan, cook dates, sugar, lemon juice and water over medium heat, stirring often, until the dates are soft, about 15 minutes.
• Let cool.
• In a bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, sugar, baking soda and salt; blend in butter until mixture is crumbly.
• Pat half onto bottom of 9 inch square pan.
• Spread filling evenly over the top.
• Sprinkle with the remaining flour mixture, patting lightly.
• Bake in a 350F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until nicely browned.
• Let cool; cut into squares.

MATRIMONIAL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 13x9 inch baking pan.
• Combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, butter, salt and baking soda. Mix well. The mixture will be crumbly.
• In a saucepan over low heat, cook the chopped dates with the water and the white sugar until the pulp is soft and well mixed.
• Layer 1/2 of the oat mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Top with the date mixture and then finish off with the remaining oat mixture. Press down slightly on layers to compact.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes or until top crust begins to brown.

GRANDMOTHER'S MATRIMONIAL SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stir oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and baking powder together in a bowl; cut in butter using a pastry blender until mixture is mealy and butter pieces are uniformly small.
• Press half of oat mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Cook dates with water in a small saucepan over medium heat until they fall apart and are easily mashed with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes; remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
• Spoon date mixture evenly over oat mixture in baking pan; sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly over top and press into place.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is golden at the edges, about 30 minutes; remove to cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars.