Date Nut Bread

Ingredients

• Water
• Shortening
• All-purpose flour
• 4 cups dates, cut-up
• 2 cups nuts, chopped
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
• 4 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2/3 cup hot water

Instructions

1. Boil water in a kettle. Set oven at 350 degrees F. Grease 4 small (5 x 3 inch) loaf pans and flour lightly and evenly.
2. Cut dates in half.
3. Break nuts, but not too small.
4. Pour 2 cups boiling water over the date and nut pieces and let stand while mixing the batter.
5. Cream the shortening in a bowl, adding brown sugar gradually.
6. Sift flour and salt together twice.
7. Break eggs, one at a time, into the shortening mixture.
8. Add baking soda to dates and nuts.
9. Stir flour and fruit mixture alternately into creamed batter. Stir gently; mix quickly.
10. Stir in another 2/3 cup water and fold in.
11. Pour into pans and bake for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick tested in the center comes out clean and dry.
12. Turn out of pans to cool.

Notes

This is better the next day and even better the next week.