Angela Lansbury's Walnut Date Bread

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 scant cup boiling water
• 1 cup chopped pitted dates
• 2/3 cup walnut pieces
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Strawberry cream cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously oil a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and dust with flour.
2. Place butter, baking soda, boiling water and dates into a heatproof mixing bowl. Let cool.
3. Mix in walnuts, sugar, egg yolk, flour and vanilla extract. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour.
4. Cool for 10 minutes and remove from pan onto rack to cool.
5. Slice and serve with strawberry cream cheese and freshly brewed tea.