Date Squares

          I must admit that I have really enjoyed trying new things on our dinner menu. Admittedly I am not much of a dessert person but my family is and that is a whole new challenge for me. It's hard to think of dessert when you don't feel like eating dessert. Another challenge is when you forget to eat before going grocery shopping and amidst the pangs of hunger you are trying to decide what to eat with your coffee that is somewhat appropriate to your new diet.
          Nothing in the general bakery section of my current grocery store was wheat free so I settled on date turnovers. I cannot think of dates without thinking of my mom. She loved dates and I always thought that all older people love dates. I was not old so dates were never going to be part of my diet. Until I was starving in a grocery store ... and none of the other sugary stuff was appealing. As I was eating them I realized that those dates really hit the spot and I have decided that I like dates! (I am still not admitting that I am old.)
          That evening I was on a quest to make date turnovers. Well, I am still working on that part but I did find this fantastic date square recipe from www.wheatfreemom.com and I have made it several times since at the request of my family. This is a really easy recipe and full of flavour. In her original recipe the dates are just simmer in water until soft. This is the way I like them. My husband likes the dates with a little more "tang" and so I have added a few more ingredients (which for me still remain optional).
          I like this warm, still fresh from the oven but I have been told that they are best the next day. The quantity for the filling makes enough for two batches in my kitchen for my 8 X 8 square pan. The leftover filling mellows even more as it sits in the fridge. I think that I would like to try the filling one day with just dates, water and a touch of vanilla extract. I will let you know but in the meantime ... enjoy!

Date Squares

 1/2 cup cornstarch

1/3 Brown Rice Flour 

3 tbsp tapioca starch

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups whole oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 tsp xanthum gum
1 cup butter, melted


2 ½ cups chopped, pitted Medjool dates

1 cup water

1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)

2 tbsp fresh orange juice (optional) 

1 tsp baking soda (optional)

 
Mix together the first 8 ingredients fully, then add the melted butter 
and gently stir until combined. Set aside.

Cook dates, orange and lemon juice and water in a pot on the stove, 

mixing periodically until a gooey paste forms.  Add 1 tsp baking soda, mix well and set aside.

Line a 8×8 pan with parchment paper (for easier removal of squares).
Press ½ of oat mixture on pan.  Spread date filling evenly over oat layer.   

Top with remaining oats and spread out.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.
Allow to cool completely before removing and cutting squares.

 
by wheatfreemom.com