Recipe: Date Bars with Lemon Icing

Hello! I took a very long break from blogging, but I'm back for an update and to share a recipe.

During my absence, I realized that I'm not going to opening an Etsy shop, not while I'm still living in Manhattan, anyway. The creative juices do not flow in my apartment. My lack of creative energy, I think, has resulted in my lack of blogging, too, which was created to share my crafts and blog about decorating. On the upside, I have also discovered my love of culinary arts, which is in my blood and which I'm considering pursuing as a career. Finally, school has taken up much of my time.

Speaking of cooking, here's a recipe for, what I call Date Bars with Lemon Icing. I got the recipe on allrecipes.com, where they are called Lemon Glazed Date Sticks, but I don't think they're stick like and also I've doubled the recipe enough to fill a 9x9 pan completely. So here's the recipe:

Cookie
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons butter/margerine, melted and cooled
2 cups dates, pitted and chopped

Icing
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons butter/margerine
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a bowl, beat eggs, add sugar. Add butter, then dates, and mix. Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Pour into a greased 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan. Bake for approx 18-20 minutes or whenever they are done.

To Make Glaze: Combine milk, margarine, confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, and grated lemon rind (lemon zest). Heat over low heat until well blended. Or, combine in a microwavable bowl and nuke for 30-45 seconds. Cool slightly before pouring over cookies. Cut cookies like brownies.

I would have a picture, but I only made them last night and there's only one piece left, now! Enjoy.