Another of the recipes from my grandmother’s notebook – this one is credited to my Aunt Pearl, Nana’s sister. Aunt Pearl lived in Aroostook County, Maine – that’s about as far North as you can get! I have many happy memories of visiting her and waking up to donuts frying, or the smell of bread baking. It was heavenly, she made it look effortless, Aunt Pearl\u00a0was definitely one of my early inspirations to learn how to bake.<\/p>\n
![\"AuntPearl\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/AuntPearl.jpg?resize=340%2C464&ssl=1\")
Aunt Pearl<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Filling:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 2 – 8 ounce packages of chopped dates<\/li>\n
- 3\/4 cup of light brown sugar<\/li>\n
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract<\/li>\n
- 1 tablespoon butter<\/li>\n
- 1 cup water<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
1. Add all ingredients into a saucepan, and let simmer over medium heat until thickened – about 20 minutes. Set aside to cool a bit.<\/p>\n
Crust:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 1 cup butter or shortening<\/span><\/li>\n
- 1 cup light brown sugar<\/li>\n
- 1 1\/2 cups flour<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 teaspoon baking soda<\/li>\n
- 1 teaspoon salt<\/li>\n
- 1 1\/2 cups oatmeal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
1. Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine butter\/shortening and brown sugar until well incorporated.<\/p>\n
2. In a separate, smaller bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter\/sugar mixture, then mix in the oatmeal.<\/p>\n
3. Grease an 8″x 8″ pan, spoon half of the oatmeal mixture in the pan and press down with fingers to form a crust. Pour in cooled date mixture over crust, using a spatula to even out.<\/p>\n
4. Crumble the remaining oatmeal mixture over the top, and lightly press down with fingers or a spoon. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Let cool completely before cutting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Another of the recipes from my grandmother’s notebook – this one is credited to my Aunt Pearl, Nana’s sister. Aunt Pearl lived in Aroostook County, Maine – that’s about as far North as you can get! I have many happy … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[31,1238,4],"tags":[3424,3423,1074,3422],"class_list":["post-18030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blast-from-the-past","category-lovin-from-the-oven","category-news","tag-aroostook-county","tag-aunt-pearl","tag-maine","tag-nanas-notebook"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1ed1x-4GO","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5386,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2011\/11\/25\/aunt-pearls-date-cookies\/","url_meta":{"origin":18030,"position":0},"title":"Aunt Pearl’s Date Cookies","author":"Tina Garceau","date":"November 25, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Thanksgiving is over, and Christmas will be here before you know it! This is the time of year when I begin to stockpile various cookie doughs in my freezer to bake in the coming weeks. I'll be posting a few of my favorites here, starting off with my Great Aunt\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Food"","block_context":{"text":"Food","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/food\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/datecookies.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/datecookies.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/datecookies.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40591,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2023\/05\/14\/south-philadelphia-in-the-40s\/","url_meta":{"origin":18030,"position":1},"title":"South Philadelphia in the ’40s.","author":"Joe","date":"May 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Family friend Aunt Francis with my Mom in South Philadelphia back in the '40s.","rel":"","context":"In "Blast from the Past"","block_context":{"text":"Blast from the Past","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/blast-from-the-past\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Aunt Francis and Mom","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/2222\/2419062087_d6562f4c38_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/2222\/2419062087_d6562f4c38_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/2222\/2419062087_d6562f4c38_z.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8322,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2012\/06\/08\/mister-brooks\/","url_meta":{"origin":18030,"position":2},"title":"Our Mister Brooks!","author":"Tina Garceau","date":"June 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "Animated GIF"","block_context":{"text":"Animated GIF","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/animated-gif\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/BROOKSart.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24863,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2019\/01\/08\/orange-banana-muffins\/","url_meta":{"origin":18030,"position":3},"title":"Orange Banana Muffins","author":"Tina Garceau","date":"January 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I was tidying the kitchen yesterday, when I came across a recipe card from Joe's Aunt Jean. Guests were asked to share a recipe with me at my bridal shower, and over the years I've made almost all of them. Except for sweet potatoes with brown sugar and marshmallows, that's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Lovin' from the Oven"","block_context":{"text":"Lovin' from the Oven","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/lovin-from-the-oven\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/OrangeBanana.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/OrangeBanana.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/OrangeBanana.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6166,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2012\/01\/13\/friday-number\/","url_meta":{"origin":18030,"position":4},"title":"Friday Five – Number Two","author":"Tina Garceau","date":"January 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The second in a series - creating a collage using five elements. Among the elements is my grandmother's recipe for Poor Man's Whipped Cream, some vintage wallpaper and a photo of a great aunt.","rel":"","context":"In "Collage"","block_context":{"text":"Collage","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/collage-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Friday-Five-Week22.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Friday-Five-Week22.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Friday-Five-Week22.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35680,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2021\/02\/25\/happy-birthday-lloyd-5\/","url_meta":{"origin":18030,"position":5},"title":"Happy Birthday Lloyd!","author":"Tina Garceau","date":"February 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is Lloyd's birthday, and preparations have been underway. Every year he requests pulled pork sandwiches, Aunt Pat's coleslaw, and Lay's Wavy Chips for dinner. And there's cake - this year, a vanilla three layer cake made with buttermilk and a chocolate cream cheese frosting. Happy birthday sweetheart, we love\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Holiday"","block_context":{"text":"Holiday","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/holiday\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BabyLloyd.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18030"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18030\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Food-Header-1\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Food-Header-12.jpg?resize=640%2C144&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n![\"DateSquares\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/DateSquares.jpg?resize=640%2C482&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n