Canadian Matrimonial Cake Food

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.

MATRIMONIAL DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat dates, 2/3 cup brown sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a saucepan over low heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until dates have softened, absorbed the liquid, and mixture is like a paste, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract.
• Stir oats, flour, 1 cup brown sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl; cut in butter with a knife or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Lightly press 2/3 of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x9-inch pan. Spread date mixture evenly over the crumb crust; sprinkle remaining crumbs evenly over the top of date mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden, about 30 minutes; cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing into bars.

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.

GRANDMA'S MATRIMONIAL CAKE

Steps:

• Date filling: Place water and dates in saucepan. Cover and cook on low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the filling is thickened and smooth. If the cooking mixture is too thick, add a little water.
• Stir in the lemon juice. Set aside.
• cake:.
• Mix flour, oats, brown sugar and baking soda.
• Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.
• Press half of the crumbs into a greased 9 x 13 pan.
• Top with Date filling mixture. Spread evenly with a spatula.
• Top with remaining half of crumbs.
• Bake 350 35 minutes til lightly browned.
• Cut into 42 bars.

AUNTIE ANNE'S MATRIMONIAL CAKE

Steps:

• Date Filling: Cook dates in water with orange rind {grated} with sugar over a moderate heat until thickened and smooth remove from heat and add fruit juices mix well and cool before spreading.
• Crumb Mixture: Sift flour, baking soda and salt rub in butter add sugar and oatmeal mix well spread 1/2 of the crumb mixture in a greased pan and press in smoothly. Cover with cooled date mixture evenly then cover with the remaining crumb mixture pat to make smooth bake 30 - 35 minutes in a cool oven 325 Fahrenheit then increase the heat to 350 Fahrenheit to lightly brown cake.
• Cut in squares while hot allow to cool in pan.
• Note: Date mixture can be cut in half if you do not want that much filling. Crumb mixture I blend the butter well with the crumb mixture then I put the mixture in my Kitchen Aid stand mixer on the lowest setting for about 3 minutes until well blended to crumb consistency only do not over blend in mixer it will happen quickly about 1 - 3 minutes depending on how soft your butter is in the beginning.
• Note: I use cold butter for the crumble mixture. We like like this date crumble very delicately browned so we don't turn the oven up to 350 Fahrenheit just keep it at 325 for 10 more minutes after the 30 minutes. I also add quite a bit more lemon and just about a 1/4 cup of dates more that are chopped and pitted that's how our family likes this cake. I also let the date mixture marry for a couple of days in the refrigerator and then reduce it somewhat on very low heat then cool for baking the cake.

MATRIMONIAL SQUARES

Steps:

• Base:.
• In a large bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Cut in butter until crumbly.
• Spread 3/4 of the crumbs in a 9 x 13 inch cake pan.
• Date Filling:.
• Mix dates, water and sugar together in a saucepan.
• Cook until thick, stirring frequently.
• Remove from heat and add lemon juice.
• Allow to cool before using.
• Spread over the crumbs in the pan.
• Sprinkle the remaining crumbs over top of the filling.
• Bake at 350 degrees F.
• for 20 minutes.