Date Nut Bread

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups dates, pitted and chopped
2 ¼ cups boiling water
3 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons margarine
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparations:
Step 1 - Combine baking soda with the boiling water. Soak the dates in the water and baking soda solution for 30 minutes.
Step 2 - Cream sugar and butter together. Add eggs, vanilla, dates, nuts, flour, and salt.
Step 3 - Divide batter equally between two 9 x 5 (or 8 1/2 x 4 1/2) inch greased loaf pans. Bake 1 hour at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) (or until loaf tests done). Can be frozen when cool.