Date Shortbread Bars

"This is about soft chopped dates meeting perfect shortbread pastry. Interesting coupling: dates will think at first the pastry is a bit boring, quite a bit dry and not very attractive. Pastry will think the dates are a bit wet (already had a drink or two for Dutch courage?), not quite as sweet as they appeared to be (no sugar added) but possibly wholesome for the very same reason. At first they won't gel, being a bit awkward towards each other, not to mention the fact that one will have to wait for quite a long while for the other to arrive. But once they've spent some time together (as little as 25 minutes) magic starts working. They suddenly seem made for each other even though admittedly the pastry does look longingly at plain jam once or twice. But dates won't let go, firmly stuck in the middle and the chemistry (or the hot oven) makes them a match made in heaven."

Preparation Time20 min

Cooking Time30 min