Preheat the
oven to 375F. Grease 16 regular size muffin pans. To make the filling,
put into a small saucepan the dates, water, sugar, lemon juice, and
rind. Bring to a boil and simmer gently, uncovered, until thick and
smooth but not dry. Stir occasionally. Remove from the heat and cool. To make the
pastry crust, mix together the flour, baking soda, oats, and sugar. Add
the melted butter and lemon juice. Blend together using a fork or
floured hands. Roll the dough out about 1/4 inch thick on a floured
board, and divide it into three portions. Cut two thirds of the dough
into sixteen 3 inch circles and pat them into the base and sides of the
pans; cut the remaining dough into sixteen 1 1/2 inch circles.
Put 1-2
teaspoonfuls of the date mixture into the pastry shells and set the 1
1/2 inch circles of dough on top, pressing the edges together. Bake for
35 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven, cool in the
tins, and then lift out onto wire rack. The name of
these little pies reflects the tea room's location across from the
greenery of Clapham Common.
