Date Nut Bread

Tis the season for baking.  If you like to make breads or cakes for Christmas Gifts, there is a new tool to use this year - paper bake ware.  I first saw it in a cooking magazine, then I found it at Michael's.  Celebrate It! holiday bake ware is paper bake ware with holiday designs on the outside that allow you to bake and give without the pans.  Just think of it as large cupcake papers.  Find more at Michael's.

If you need a new bread recipe, try this one:

  1 1/2 Cup dates, pitted and chopped                                        3 Tbl margarine

  2 1/4 Cup boiling water                                                          2 eggs, beaten

  3 Tsp baking soda                                                                  1 Tsp salt

  1 Cup chopped walnuts                                                          4 1/2 Cup all-purpose flour

  2 Cup white sugar                                                                 1 Tsp vanilla extract

Combine baking soda with the boiling water. Soak the dates in the water and baking soda solution for 30 minutes.

Cream sugar and butter together. Add eggs, vanilla, dates, nuts, flour, and salt.  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 until loaf tests done. Loaves can be frozen when cool.