Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/2  cup           butter
     1/4  cup           confectioners' sugar
   1      cup           all-purpose flour
   2                    eggs
     1/2  cup           sugar
   1      package       vanilla pudding and pie filling mix -- (3 1/4 oz.)
     1/2  teaspoon      baking powder
     1/2  cup           pecans -- chopped
   1      cup           dates -- chopped

Preparation:

Makes 25 bars 1. Cream butter in a small mixing bowl; gradually add confectioners' sugar and beat until light and fluffy. 2. Gradually blend in flour. 3. Press evenly in a 10-inch square baking pan; bake in a preheated 350 F. oven 15 to 18 minutes, or until lightly browned. 4. Meanwhile, beat eggs in a small mixing bowl until thick and lemon-colored; gradually beat in sugar. 5. Stir in pudding mix and baking powder; add pecans and dates. 6. Spread on hot crust; return to oven and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden. 7. Cool on wire rack; cut into bars. NOTE: For a slightly different twist, pecan date bars can be transformed into coconut date bars by substituting 1 cup of flaked coconut for the pecan