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1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
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2. Take 2 tablespoons of the melted butter and brush your pan (one 9x13 pan or two 8x8 pans), making sure to grease the sides as well.
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3. Set the coarsely chopped dates, walnuts and pecans (if using) aside in a bowl. (If the dates you are using are too dry, you can soak them in a little bit of liquid. Make sure you drain them before mixing them in with the nuts.)
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4. Sift the flour, salt, and baking powder into a bowl. Set aside.
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5. Mix the remaining 1 1/4 cup melted butter and sugars until well incorporated.
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6. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
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7. Add in the vanilla.
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8. Reserve 1/4 cup of the flour mixture. Dredge the date and nut mixture with the reserved flour. Use more of the flour mixture if needed.
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9. Mix in the rest of the flour mixture with the wet ingredients. Do this gently, by hand, until just incorporated.
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10. Fold in dredged dates and nuts with the batter.
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10. Pour the batter (it will be very thick) onto the buttered pan(s).
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11. Bake for 30 or more minutes, until light golden brown. It can take up to 40 or so minutes to cook, so keep checking. The bars are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs.
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12. Let cool, and cut into squares or bars. Traditionally, these are then individually wrapped and either stacked in a gift basket, or simply served on a platter.
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Store these in an airtight container. They will stay moist if wrapped tightly.
