Mescouta (Date Cookies)

Ingredients

• 6 eggs, well beaten
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup (1 stick) melted butter or margarine
• ¾ cup flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup pitted dates, chopped
• ½ cup walnuts or almonds, finely chopped
• ⅓ cup raisins, seedless
• 3 Tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In large mixing bowl, mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, and melted butter or margarine by hand (or with an electric mixer) until well-blended (mix for about 3 minutes).
3. Gradually stir in flour and baking powder, a little at a time, stirring with a wooden spoon to blend.
4. Add dates, nuts, and raisins, and mix well.
5. Pour mixture into greased 8- or 9-inch square cake pan.
6. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. While still warm, cut into rectangular bars about an inch wide.
8. Put 3 Tablespoons confectioners' sugar into a small dish.
9. Roll each bar in confectioners' sugar.
10. Store bars in a box with wax paper between layers.

Makes 24 to 30 bars.

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