PINEAPPLE DATE SLICE

This slice recipe was given to me by a lovely lady Kaye who served it up on many occasions for afternoon tea.  Very seldom did she get to put any away.

Ingredients:
Slice:     2 cups SR Flour                             Topping:     400 g can crushed pineapple
             1/2 cup coconut                                                250 g dates (chopped)
             1 cup brown sugar                                            1/2 cup brown sugar
             175 gr butter (chopped)                                    1 tea orange rind (grated)
                                                                                      1 tab orange juice
                                                                                      4 tab coconut

Preheat oven (180'c (less 10' if fan forced)  Line a slice tray with baking paper.  Combine sifted flour, coconut and sugar in a bowl.  Rub in butter til mixture is crumbly.  Press half mixture into the lined slice tray.saving the rest for later.  Drain the pineapple and reserve 1/2 cup of syrup.
Combine 1/2 cup of syrup, dates, sugar, orange rind and juice in a medium saucepan.  Cook over low heat, stirring til mixture is thick.  Remove from heat, stir in the crushed pineapple and leave to cool.  Spread the filling over the base.  Sprinkle the remaining mixture from the base over the filling, then sprinkle with coconut.  Bake for 35 - 40 minutes.  Cool before cutting into squares.