Recipe#5841

Title: Matrimonial Cake

SOURCE: _A Century of Canadian Home Cooking: 1900 Through the 90s" by Carol
  Ferguson and Margaret Fraser

  1 1/2 c  Flour, all purpose                1/2 ts Baking soda
  1 1/2 c  Rolled oats                       1/4 ts -Salt
      1 c  Brown sugar; packed               3/4 c  Butter; softened
----------------------------------FILLING----------------------------------
      2 c  Dates; chopped, pitted              1 ts Lemon juice
    1/2 c  Sugar, granulated                 3/4 c  -Boiling water
 
  "This recipe in some old cookbooks is called Date Sandwich Cake. Other
  variations are Raisin Squares or Fig Squares. .. Date Squares (Matrimonial
  Cake, if you happen to come from the West) are a real nostalgia treat. The
  fillings in the 30s recipes was extremely sweet. Today's versions reduce
  the sugar in the filling, since the dates are sweet enough, and are often
  microwaved. Raisin Puff, an old favorite in P.E.I. is somewhat similar,
  with raisin filling sandwiched between layers of soft cookie dough instead
  of an oatmeal mixture."
  
  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.
  
  MAKES: 36 SQUARES VARIATION: Mincemeat Squares
  : Use 2 cups mincemeat instead of date filling.