Dear Seas,

Here is the recipe my mother used for date-swirl cookies. I found it on the internet. I can't eat sweets, anymore, due to my diabetes, and I won't enter this as a response to a tag, but I thought you might like to use it.

Ingredients:

1 (10-ounce) package chopped dates

3/4 cup sugar, divided

1/2 cup water

1/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup butter or margarine.

Softened 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.

2 cups all-purpose flour,

1/4 teaspoon baking soda.

Preparation: Stir together dates, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a saucepan; bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts, and set aside. Beat the remaining 1/2 cup sugar; softened butter, and brown sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, beating until blended. Gradually add remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, flour, and baking soda, beating until blended. Cover and chill for 1 hour; turn the dough out onto floured wax paper, and roll into an 18- x 12-inch rectangle. Spread the date mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border; roll up the dough in jellyroll fashion, beginning at 1 long side. You'll then wrap in wax paper, and chill for 1 hour; then cut the roll into 1/4-inch-thick slices; place on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake, in batches, at 375° for 12 to 14 minutes or until lightly browned, thethe cool cookies 2 to 3 minutes on baking sheets, and remove to wire racks to cool completely.