DATECRACKER RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan. In a saucepan, combine water and raisins. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in chopped dates and baking soda. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter and 3/4 cup white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour, salt and date mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove cake from oven, and set oven to Broil.
• Make Topping: In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir in brown sugar, cream and chopped nuts. Spread mixture over warm cake and place under broiler until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Watch carefully - it burns easily under the broiler. Cool before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9 inch pie pan.
• Crush crackers into fine crumbs and set aside.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually beat in the white sugar. Fold in the cracker crumbs. Then gently fold in the chopped dates and chopped nuts. Stir in almond extract. Spread mixture into the prepared pie pan.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 20 minutes. Turn off oven heat and let pie stand in oven for 10 minutes. When ready to serve top with whipped cream.