Date Bread

I baked this bread for a family brunch (to go with a frittata and fruit salad). It was a great success. I got the original recipe from Judy Kivi's book, Myths and Recipes of the Last Frontier: Alaska.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chopped dates
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 tablespoons shortening (I prefer coconut oil)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups sifted flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup nuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Sprinkle soda over dates and add boiling water. Let stand.
2. In separate bowl, use mixer to cream shortening, sugar, and eggs.
3. Alternate mixing in flour and salt and date mixture.
4. Add nuts and vanilla.
5. Bake in 2 loaf tins for 1 hour at 350 degrees.