Date Nut Bread

Serve slices of this dense, moist, old-fashioned favorite plain or slathered with cream cheese.

11⁄2 cups chopped pitted dates

6 tablespoons butter or margarine, cut into pieces

11⁄4 cups boiling water

2 cups all-purpose flour

3⁄4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup walnuts (4 ounces), coarsely chopped

• In medium bowl, combine dates, butter, and boiling water; let stand until cool.
• Preheat oven to 325°F and grease 9" by 5" metal loaf pan.
• In large bowl, with wire whisk, stir flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir egg into cooled date mixture. Stir date mixture into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Stir in walnuts.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
• Makes 1 loaf, 16 slices.
• Prep: 20 minutes plus cooling
• Bake: 1 hour 15 minutes