DATE AND APRICOT COOKIES

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pitted dates, cut small
• 1 1/4 cups cooked unsweetened apricots, drained
• 1/2 cup brown or white sugar
• 2 tablespoons liquid from apricots
• 1/4 cup melted shortening (1/4 butter for flavor)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon soda
• 2 cups oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

1. Boil dates, apricots, and sugar in apricot liquid for about 3 minutes, then cool.
2. Mix shortening, sugar, flour, soda, and oatmeal.
3. Press half of this mixture into a greased cookie pan.
4. Spread with the cooked fruit filling.
5. Top with the remaining half of the dough.
6. Bake, cool, and cut into bars.