Date and Nut Bread

This bread is most delicious sliced thinly and spread with cream cheese. The key to easy slicing is to chill the bread and use a very sharp knife.

Date and Nut Bread
1 cup dates, chopped
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup boiling ater
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 large egg, well beaten
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup English walnuts, chopped

Grease a 4 1/2 x 9 inch loaf pan well, or use two 6×3 inch pans.
In a large mixing bowl, combine dates, sugar, boiling water. Mix well and allow to cool.
Preheat oven to 350* F
When the date mixture has cooled, stir in the rest of the ingredients.
Pour the batter into prepared pans.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes or until done when tested with a toothpick (smaller pans take less time).
Remove the bread from the oven, remove from pan, cool completely on a rack.