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.