Lemon Glazed Persimmon Bars

Ingredients:
1 cup persimmon pulp mixed with 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon baking soda
---Mix together in a small bowl and set aside.
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup salad oil
8 ounces (about 1 cup) pitted, finely snipped dates
---Stir together well in a large bowl
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon EACH salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions: Combine gently till well mixed
Add the flour mixture to the date mixture alternately with the persimmon mixture, stirring just until blended.
Stir in 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans. Grease and flour-dust a 10x15 inch rimmed baking pan. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan (it will be very thin and it makes thin bars). Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or till just lightly browned - don't overbake! Let cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes. Prepare Lemon Glaze and spread over cookies. Let cool completely andthen cut into bars.

LEMON GLAZE: Stir 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 Tablespoons lemon juice until smooth.

Interesting Facts: The persimmon dates back before the pilgrims and native americans. Infact, the Native Americans were the ones who told the Pilgrims that the persimmon was only ripe after the first frost and if they picked and ate the persimmon before the frost, it would pucker your mouth and be very sour. Captain John Smith, husband of Pocahontas, was quoted saying, "If it be not ripe it will drawe a mans mouth awrie with much torment; but when it is ripe, it is as delicious as an Apricock."