Re: Date Bars

Lisasmom · ‎05-28-2010

On 4/29/2014 DiamondGirly said:
Here's a recipe for Date Bars that my Mother made while I was growing up. They are probably her very favorite!

Date Bars

2 eggs

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 Tbsp. shortening, melted

¼ cup sifted cake flour

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 cup chopped dates

1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat eggs until light. Add sugar and shortening. Blend well. Sift dry ingredients together. Add dates, nuts and vanilla. Blend well and pour into greased shallow cake pan. Bake in slow oven (325º F.) about 25 minutes. Cut into bars and roll in confectioners’ sugar.

Makes about 24 bars.

(This recipe is from The American Home Cookbook, a recipe book of my mom's, which she has had since 1948.)

I was looking at this thread and could not believe that this recipe was right in front of me!

Back in the 1950's I would visit my father's California relatives every summer and a brown paper bag of these date bars, called Chinese Chews by my great-aunts, was always given to us to eat 'on the road'. We used to walk on the beach at Ventura eating them!

I never got the recipe and now I have it - thanks!

They are to die for good and messy to eat in a car

DiamondGirly · ‎03-10-2010

On 10/4/2014 bamberkat said:
On 4/29/2014 DiamondGirly said:
Here's a recipe for Date Bars that my Mother made while I was growing up. They are probably her very favorite!

I was looking at this thread and could not believe that this recipe was right in front of me!

Back in the 1950's I would visit my father's California relatives every summer and a brown paper bag of these date bars, called Chinese Chews by my great-aunts, was always given to us to eat 'on the road'. We used to walk on the beach at Ventura eating them!

I never got the recipe and now I have it - thanks!

They are to die for good and messy to eat in a car

You're very welcome! I hope these represent what you remember...it's so fun getting recipes of the foods we knew as kids, isn't it? Enjoy!

*PS..I am SURE my Mother used all-purpose flour, not cake flour

Here is a recipe I found for Chinese Chews:

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chinese_chews/

Lisasmom · ‎05-28-2010

On 10/4/2014 DiamondGirly said:
On 10/4/2014 bamberkat said:
On 4/29/2014 DiamondGirly said:
Here's a recipe for Date Bars that my Mother made while I was growing up. They are probably her very favorite!

I was looking at this thread and could not believe that this recipe was right in front of me!

Back in the 1950's I would visit my father's California relatives every summer and a brown paper bag of these date bars, called Chinese Chews by my great-aunts, was always given to us to eat 'on the road'. We used to walk on the beach at Ventura eating them!

I never got the recipe and now I have it - thanks!

They are to die for good and messy to eat in a car

You're very welcome! I hope these represent what you remember...it's so fun getting recipes of the foods we knew as kids, isn't it? Enjoy!

*PS..I am SURE my Mother used all-purpose flour, not cake flour

Here is a recipe I found for Chinese Chews:

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chinese_chews/

yes, it IS fun getting those old recipes because at the time I never gave it a thought - I just scarfed things down

I know my aunts used regular flour as well!

Well, there you go - the walnuts were in the Chinese Chews! I had forgotten about the walnuts! I do remember that wonderful smell when they were taken out of the oven and sliced warm so the confectioner's sugar would stick to them as they were rolled in it

lol - I have my shopping list for tomorrow ready to go - I was going out for cat food anyway, so might as well make a batch of these wonderful little creations and re-live some great memories!

I don't care how many new and fancy cookbooks keep coming out and I have my share, but you just can't beat some of these 'golden' recipes.......

thanks for looking up the Chinese Chews - they look exactly like what I remember

what fun!!

DiamondGirly · ‎03-10-2010

On 10/4/2014 bamberkat said:
On 10/4/2014 DiamondGirly said:
On 10/4/2014 bamberkat said:
On 4/29/2014 DiamondGirly said:
Here's a recipe for Date Bars that my Mother made while I was growing up. They are probably her very favorite!

I was looking at this thread and could not believe that this recipe was right in front of me!

Back in the 1950's I would visit my father's California relatives every summer and a brown paper bag of these date bars, called Chinese Chews by my great-aunts, was always given to us to eat 'on the road'. We used to walk on the beach at Ventura eating them!

I never got the recipe and now I have it - thanks!

They are to die for good and messy to eat in a car

You're very welcome! I hope these represent what you remember...it's so fun getting recipes of the foods we knew as kids, isn't it? Enjoy!

*PS..I am SURE my Mother used all-purpose flour, not cake flour

Here is a recipe I found for Chinese Chews:

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chinese_chews/

yes, it IS fun getting those old recipes because at the time I never gave it a thought - I just scarfed things down

I know my aunts used regular flour as well!

Well, there you go - the walnuts were in the Chinese Chews! I had forgotten about the walnuts! I do remember that wonderful smell when they were taken out of the oven and sliced warm so the confectioner's sugar would stick to them as they were rolled in it

lol - I have my shopping list for tomorrow ready to go - I was going out for cat food anyway, so might as well make a batch of these wonderful little creations and re-live some great memories!

I don't care how many new and fancy cookbooks keep coming out and I have my share, but you just can't beat some of these 'golden' recipes.......

thanks for looking up the Chinese Chews - they look exactly like what I remember

what fun!!

You're very welcome!!

You know, I really do agree with you about the "golden" recipes! They're a part of our past and our souls! There's no beating them for sure!

Have fun creating a past delicacy!! I think I'll have to make some soon, too!

*I was thinking, some time I might add some coconut to them......mmmm....

luvsbulldogs · ‎03-14-2010

On 10/4/2014 nomless said: This morning, I made the Betty Crocker classic date bar recipe and was thrilled that it's a dead ringer for the discontinued box mix we love and miss. It's very easy, and the result is great. The recipe is posted above in post #9. It's the last recipe in tkins' post.

I always make this exact same recipe given to me by my mom but instead of using the dates I use cut up dried apricots. I usually make them every Christmas. I am going to try using the dates. My DH loves Date and Nut Bread and this will be a nice change.

I just checked my pantry and I have a box from Dromedary so they are still in business.

ChiliPepper · ‎01-16-2015

I ran into this thread looking for something.

There are some great sounding recipes here!

Thanks to all who posted them!

debcakes · ‎03-11-2010

The third recipe Tkins posted is definitely the one I used as a kid. I loved them and may not have had them in 40 years. I will buy some oatmeal and make some tomorrow. I have dates i bought in Dateland and have not used. Thanks for posting. I am excited.