Two Yummy Recipes

Here is a sampling of what's been baked around here the past couple days- Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies and Date Bars!
We had a MOPS planning meeting today, it was so nice to sit around and not chase kids for a good portion of the day. We girls had lunch together, everyone brought something so tasty. Of course I was assigned dessert because I can't make anything else. Or don't want to, I'm not sure which. Anyway, Tracey really wanted the recipe for the date bars, so here it is...

***Date Bars***

1 1/2 c. flour
1 3/4 c. uncooked oatmeal
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 c. butter
2 TBS. milk

1 c. pitted dates
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. water

1. Mix together flour, oatmeal, 3/4 c. sugar, b. soda, and butter until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup crumbs. Add milk to remaining crumb mixture and mix well.

2. In sauce pan cook dates, 1/2 c. sugar, and water until soft and gooey, about 15 minutes.

3. Spread crumb mixture into 8x8 square pan. Cover with cooked date mixture and sprinkle with reserved 1 cup crumbs.

4. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes (mine are always done by 25 min.!)


***Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies***

1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 c. flour
1/3 c. baking cocoa
1/2 tsp. b. soda
16-18 large marshmallows

ICING:
6 TBS. butter
2 TBS. baking cocoa
1/4 c. milk
1 3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
pecan halves

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, cocoa and baking soda; beat into creamed mixture. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, cut marshmallows in half. Press a marshmallow half, cut side down, onto each cookie. Return to the oven for 2 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
For icing, combine butter, cocoa and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Cool slightly; transfer to a small mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat well. Spread over the cooled cookies. Top each with a pecan half. Yield: about 3 dozen .