Swirl cookies

1 1/4 cups dates that are finely chopped

3/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbsp butter

3 cups flour

2 tsp vanilla

4 oz cream cheese

1/4 cup shortening

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

In a sauce pan toss in dates, orange juice, sugar, butter and 1 tbsp flour over medium heat cook for 10 minutes until is looks thick. Remove from the stove and stir in 1 tsp vanilla. Let cool

In a mixer toss in brown sugar, cream cheese and shortening and beat until fluffy on medium speed. Add eggs and 1 tsp vanilla beat 2 additional minutes. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt and then slowly add it to the fluffy mixture. Divide the dough in half. Lightly flour a surface and roll out the dough into a 12x9 rectangle. Grab the mixture that has cooled from the stove and spread half of it evenly over the dough and leave about a 1/4 inch or so border on the 9" side. Roll up the dough tightly like you do Cinnamon rolls and wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for 1 hour. Finally, I use thread to cut the dough into 1/4 inch slices and bake for 12 minutes at 350 on greased baking sheets. Let cool