DATE, ALMOND & COCONUT SQUARES

Has anyone been having weird dreams since the start of the COVID-19 era? Strange, vivid dreams that leave you wondering what that was about and where you are when you wake up? I have and so has Mike. But two nights ago, instead of dreaming about a grotesque orange-skinned monster (yes, well, we know who that was) or cute, animated viruses inhabiting my pillow, I dreamt about making chewy, sweet, delectable squares. I had it all worked out in my dream: the ingredients, the exact quantities, the baking time and most of all, the eating time. So I made my dream come true yesterday and here they are....

I wish I dreams like this every night!

INGREDIENTS

125 demi sel (lightly salted) butter

250g brown sugar

1 egg, beaten

150g self-raising flour

1 1/2 cups chopped dried dates

100g almond flakes

1 tbsp desiccated coconut

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Line a 25 x 18 baking tin with baking paper.

Combine the butter and sugar in a saucepan on a medium high heat until the butter and sugar have melted into each other, stirring continually with a wooden spoon.

Take the mixture off the heat and empty into a large bowl.

Leave to cool a bit.

Add the beaten egg, stirring it in well.

Sift the flour into the mixture and stir until well combined.

Add the chopped dates, almond flakes and desiccated coconut, folding everything together until well combined.

The mixture will be thick and sticky.

Empty it into your prepared baking tin and smooth it over. (I do this with wet hands but if you don't like sticky fingers, just use a palette knife dipped in water.)

Bake for about 25 minutes.

Remove from oven and let it cool in the tin for about 10 minutes.

Using a sharp knife, cut it into the size bars you want. Mine made about 25 pieces.

When completely cool, store in Tupperware to keep fresh - although they won't last long, believe me!