The Fearful Gourmet BAKES -- Date nut bars!

The Fearful Gourmet does not ordinarily bake. In fact, I think the only thing I've baked til now was a cheesecake for a boyfriend when I was 20 (which I wouldn't eat because I'm afraid of cheesecake) and  a batch or two of simple cookies. But I was inspired by my friend Janet, baker extraordinaire, to give baking a try.

Janet shared with me an easy recipe that doesn't require too much equipment and uses very little butter. Aside from a little mishap with my mixer resulting in my being covered in sugar (and to a lesser extent, butter) it went off without a hitch. The resulting bars are rich, flavorful and filled with crunchy nuts and chewy dates. Yum!

Prep time - Minimal
Nice enough to bring to someone's house? Oh yes!
Would I make it again? Yes - Possibly even later today!
Gluten free? No
Vegetarian? Yes 
My grade - A 

Date Nut Bars 

• 2 Tbsp butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp hot water
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 box dates (1 1/4 cups chopped)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (I used closer to 3/4 of a teaspoon)

Cream butter with sugar, add eggs, water and vanilla. Mix flour with baking powder - add to wet. Mix and add nuts and dates. Spray square pan with pam and spread batter. Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. Cut into bars when cool and roll in confectionery sugar.