Instructions: To prepare dough, cream the butter and sugars together until very light and creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Beat in the vanilla.

Sift the flour with the baking soda and stir into the batter to make a soft dough.

Dough may be rolled immediately or chilled for easier handling.

To prepare filling, combine the dates, orange rind, granulated sugar and water in a small pan and heat, stirring, until mixture is thick. Cool. Stir in the walnuts.

Roll out half the dough on a lightly floured pastry cloth or board into a rectangle about 10 by 16 inches. Spread with half the cooled date mixture and roll from
the long side like a jellyroll. Wrap in waxed paper and chill several hours or overnight. Repeat with the other half of dough and date mixture.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Slice the rolls about 1/3 inch thick and place, cut side up, on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake 15 minutes, or until well browned. Cool on a rack.

Makes about 6 dozen.

Note: If you like, roll out half the dough, spread with all the filling, roll out the other half of the dough and cover the first layer and date filling, then bake the whole thing and after it has cooled a little, cut into bars or squares.

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