Holiday Mincemeat Bars Recipe

¾ cup shortening or margarine
¾ cup sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1½ cups all-purpose flour
2 cups old-fashioned oats
¾ teaspoon salt, optional
One 27-ounce jar mincemeat

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch-square baking pan.
2. Combine the shortening, sugar, molasses, flour, oats, and salt, if desired, in a large bowl. Using 2 knives or a pastry blender, mix to a coarse crumble.
3. Press half of the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Spoon the mincemeat over the top. Crumble the remaining oat mixture evenly over the mincemeat. Bake 25 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.

Makes 16 bars