Orange Date Squares

Photo: flickr user Ken Lund

Ingredients

1 cup dates, chopped

2/3 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup butter

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 eggs, beaten

cup orange juice

cup milk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup walnuts, chopped

3 cups confectioner's sugar

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

cup milk

Preparation

Place dates, brown sugar, water and butter in a saucepan and simmer until dates are soft. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips. Add eggs, orange juice and milk and stir. Combine baking soda, flour, salt and walnuts and fold in date mixture. Pour into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow to cool and prepare glaze and drizzle over bars. Cut into squares and serve.

Glaze:Combine ingredients and mix well.

Note: Slimmers -: Use your favorite egg and sugar substitutes and low fat milk in the glaze.