Mom's Date-Nut-Chocolate Chip Dessert

My mom has made this recipe for years. She received it from my aunt, but I have no idea where she got it from. A cross between a cake and a brownie, this moist dessert goes really well with Cool Whip (which of course I forgot when I made this for some friends!).

Mom's
Date-Nut-Chocolate Chip
Dessert

Ingredients:
1 cup dates, chopped
1 tsp baking soda
1-1/2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs. slightly beaten
1-1/2 cups flour, plus 3 tablespoons
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup nuts, chopped (I used walnuts)
1/2 cup sugar

Mix dates, (1 teaspoon) baking soda, and boiling water in a small bowl. Cover and set aside.

Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs.

Sift flour, salt, and (3/4 teaspoon) baking soda. Add to creamed mixture. Then stir in date mixture. Pour batter in greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips, nuts, and sugar over batter.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.

Serves 15-20.

Date, Walnut & Chocolate Cookies

My mom makes a dessert that she calls "Date & Walnut Dessert," or something like that. It's basically a 9 x 13 chocolate cake with lots of yummy goodies like dates, chocolate chips, walnuts, and extra sugar on top. I decided to try to make a similar sort of cookie, so here's what I developed:

Date, Walnut & Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients:
1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped dates

Cream the butter with both types of sugar. Beat in eggs, milk, and vanilla.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly blend flour mixture into butter-sugar mixture.

Stir in oats. Then add chocolate chips, walnuts, and dates. Refrigerate dough for an hour.

Then preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Scoop dough onto cookie sheets. Baking 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on sheets for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

These cookies are great warm!

Yields: about 3 dozen cookies