My grandmother’s date bars // Archiving with HP Sprout

my grandmother's date bars // a thousand threads
There was a time when I thought we led a pretty minimalist existence — the little voice that told me I could live in a tiny house was strong.

Then I moved.

In moving spaces, it suddenly occurs to a person just how much stuff they’ve managed to accumulate over the years. Clothes, linens, props, 40 place settings for the occasional gathering.

… okay those last two might be unique.

But whatever you might keep stuffed in your own closets and corners, there is one thing we all share — we all have a lot of stuff we don’t really need.

The truly precious items, the ones we’d mourn if they were somehow misplaced in the move, are fewer and farther between. And that’s all the more reason to do whatever we can to make sure they’re protected.

… as we settle into our new home and I settle into a new job, a lot of feelings seem to sneak up and overwhelm me on a daily basis. Worry, excitement, general terror, elation… okay mostly just the two. But life and the people we love somehow feel more precious in these times of increased intensity, and the lost connection to those we’ve held dear more stark.

I have only a few items to remember my grandmother, who, growing up, lived just through a trail in the woods… and some of the most precious items I own are her handwritten recipes.

my grandmother's date bars // a thousand threadsmy grandmother's date bars // a thousand threads
Beloved, delicious dishes, written on cards stained by use and aged by time. Fragile and so apt to destruction, I would be heartbroken if they were lost. So I was so excited when I began to experiment with HP’s new Sprout, and realized that it’s able to catch so many more of the details of my grandmother’s cards than anything I’ve experienced before. It also makes it super easy to create my own archive, since the scan function is built in — so easy, in fact, that a girl can set up in a nice sunny breakfast nook if the rest of her home is still in shambles! … that 2 second setup has saved my butt more times than just this one.

my grandmother's date bars // a thousand threadsmy grandmother's date bars // a thousand threadsmy grandmother's date bars // a thousand threads
Now at least that’s one worry off my mind, and a little more room to deal with the rest.

What are some of your most precious items? Do you keep an archive just in case? After recipes, my goal is to move on to family photos!

my grandmother's date bars // a thousand threadsmy grandmother's date bars // a thousand threadsmy grandmother's date bars // a thousand threads
My grandmother’s date bars
1/2 recipe for a big batch, whole recipe for a huge batch

3 1b dates, pitted and chopped
1 cup water
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup shortening (or 1 additional cup butter — I usually stick with butter)
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons baking soda
5 cups oats (not quick)
5 cups flour

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cook dates, water, and granulated sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat until the mixture begins to form a paste. Set aside to cool.

Mix remaining ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Press half oat mixture evenly into the bottom of a cookie sheet (or for a full batch, 2 cookie sheets). Spread date mixture over, then cover with remaining oat mixture.

Bake 15 minutes or until just golden brown.

my grandmother's date bars // a thousand threadsmy grandmother's date bars // a thousand threads
This post is sponsored by HP. Thank you so much for your support of the partnerships that make A Thousand Threads possible!

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