¼ teaspoon soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

⅓ cup butter or margarine

1 cup GRANDMA’S MOLASSES

¼ teaspoon vanilla

4 egg whites, unbeaten

1¾ cups moist, shredded coconut

Heat oven to 350° F. (moderate). Sift together first four ingredients. Melt butter or margarine; add to flour mixture along with molasses, vanilla, and egg whites. Mix well, but do not overmix. Stir in coconut. Pour into two greased, 8x8x2-inch pans, lined with waxed paper, greased and lightly floured. Bake 35 minutes or until done. Remove from pan onto wire coolers; remove paper. When cold, cut each cake into 24 bars. Store in tightly closed tin box. MOLASSES COCONUT CHEWS improve with age if air is excluded when stored. YIELD: 48 bars.

MOLASSES DATE BARS