Date Moons

Yield: Makes 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  butter or margarine, softened
• 1  (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1  cup  all-purpose flour
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 1  cup  chopped dates
• 1/4  cup  sugar
• 1/4  cup  water
• 1/2  cup  chopped walnuts
• 1  teaspoon  grated orange rind
• 1/2  cup  powdered sugar

Preparation

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add flour and salt, and beat until blended.

Shape dough into a ball; cover with wax paper, and chill 1 hour.

Cook dates, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts and orange rind, and let cool.

Divide dough in half. Place 1 portion on a lightly floured surface, and roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut dough with a 2 1/2-inch round cutter, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon date mixture in center of each cookie. Repeat procedure with remaining dough.

Fold dough over filling, pressing edges with tines of a fork to seal.

Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.