Date Nut Bread
Instructions
Sprinkle 1 cup dates with 1 teaspoon baking soda, and pour 1 cup boiling water over all. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat 2 eggs, and add 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon softened butter. Mix well. Gradually stir in 1 cup walnuts, 1 cups flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and date mixture. Stir, just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour mixture into a greased and floured, waxed-paper-lined loaf pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the deepest part comes out clean. (I always bake any loaf like this in the center of the oven with a large sheet of aluminum foil on the rack above, so that the top will not over-brown. The aluminum foil may be removed near the end of baking.) Remove loaf from the oven, and let cool in the loaf pan for a few minutes. Remove from the loaf pan, and peel off the waxed paper. Place on a nice serving plate, and slice into equally-sized slices, and serve while warm with fresh butter. This is a simple bread, with a touch of elegance!
