Grandma's Date Bars Recipe

100g/4 oz butter or margarine, softened
225 g/8 oz/1 cup soft brown sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten
175 g/6 oz plain (all-purpose) flour
2.5 ml bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
5 ml/1 tsp ground cinnamon
A pinch of ground cloves
A pinch of grated nutmeg
175 g/6 oz/1 cup stoned (pitted) dates, chopped

Method:

Cream together the butter or margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition. Stir in the remaining ingredients until well blended. Spoon into a greased and floured 23 cm/9 in square baking tin (pan) and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 for 25 minutes until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool, then cut into bars.