Crazy for Date Nut Bread

I love dried fruit. Figs, dates, apricots, you name it.
I especially love dates. When in Arizona, there is a road side stand close to the airport in Phoenix that sells dates the size of plums! I buy them whenever we are there.

When I was a kid, my mother always bought Thomas' Date Nut Bread (the same maker as the English muffins). We loved it with just a "schmeer" of cream cheese for breakfast.

I don't know if Thomas' makes date nut bread anymore, so I make my own. I made a loaf last night, and it's almost gone (of course....oink oink).

It's great with or without a schmeer!

This recipe is so simple. It was given to me and handwritten by a woman that I used to work with, so I can't give any cookbook credit!

Date Nut Bread: (it's REALLY a CAKE!!!)

~ 1 cup pitted dates, chopped (I love Medjool dates)
~ 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts
~ 3/4 cup of boiling water
~ 1/4 cup of olive oil + 2 tbsp
~ zest of an orange

~ 1 cup sugar
~ 2 eggs
~ tsp vanilla
~ 1 1/2 cup of flour
~ 1 1/2 tsp of baking soda
~ 1/2 tsp salt

Pour boiling water and oil over dates and walnuts in a bowl and let stand for 15 minutes. To this mixture add the rest of the ingredients.

Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan.

Bake 45-55 minutes at 350F degrees. Let cool before releasing from pan.



This is the last of the anemone flowers in our garden...........photo taken while enjoying a piece of date nut bread and a cup of afternoon coffee!