Christine's Date Nut Bread

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (180 ml) chopped nuts
• 1 cup (240 ml) chopped dates
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup (4 tablespoons, 60 ml) vegetable shortening (you may try ¼ cup + 2 teaspoons of
• butter as substitute)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240 ml) sugar
• 1½ cups (360 ml) flour
• ¾ cup (180 ml) boiling water

Instructions:

• Combine the nuts, dates, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl
• Add shortening and boiling water
• Allow this mixture to stand for 15 minutes
• Stir to blend
• Beat eggs slightly
• Add vanilla to the eggs, then stir in the sugar and flour
• Add egg mix to date mix
• DO NOT OVER-MIX
• Place in 9x5x3 inch (22x13x8cm) loaf pan
• Bake 1 hour at 350 ºF (175 ºC)
• Let cool before slicing
• Freezes well [Frank]