Orange-Date Bars

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup margarine or butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
• Powdered sugar

Instructions

1. For batter, in a mixing bowl beat margarine or butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add about half of the flour, the brown sugar, orange peel, half of the orange juice, the egg, baking powder, and baking soda. Beat till thoroughly combined. Beat in remaining flour and orange juice. Stir in walnuts and dates.
2. Spread batter into an ungreased 11x7x1 1/2-inch baking pan. Bake in a 350° oven about 25 minutes or till a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Sift powdered sugar over the top. Cut into bars.
3. Microwave directions: Prepare batter as above. Spread batter into an ungreased 8x8x2-inch baking dish. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 50% power (medium) for 11 minutes, giving the dish a quarter-turn every 3 minutes. If not done, cook on 100% power (high) for 30 seconds to 2 minutes more or till the surface is nearly dry. Cool on a wire rack. Sift powdered sugar over top. Cut into bars.
4. Spicy Prune Bars: Prepare as above, except add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and dash ground cloves with the first half of flour, and substitute snipped dried pitted prunes for dates.
5. Cranberry-Pecan Bars: Prepare as above, except substitute chopped pecans for the walnuts and chopped cranberries for the dates.