Orange Date-Nut Bread (Recipe)

Ingredients

1 cup snipped dates

4 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel

2/3 cup boiling water

1/3 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons shortening

1 beaten egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Steps

1. Preheat the oven 350c.  Grease a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.  Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine the snipped dates and shredded orange peel.  Stir in the boiling water and orange juice.

3. Add the sugar, shortening, egg and vanilla, stirring until just mixed.

4. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and slat.  Add the flour mixture to the date mixture and mix well.  Stir in the nuts.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

5. Bake in the 350c oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

6. Cool the bread for 10 minutes in the pan.  Then remove the bread from the pan and cool thoroughly on a wire rack.  Wrap and store the bread overnight.

Tips:

Many quick-bread recipes suggest wrapping and storing the loaves overnight before slicing.  This allows the flavors to mellow and also makes the loaves easier to slice.  After baking, let the loaf cool completely on a wire rack, then wrap it in foil or plastic wrap and store at room temperature overnight.

Pre-chopped dates are available in many stores.  They have a slight sugar coating to prevent them from sticking together in the package, but that won't affect the recipe.  To snip the dates yourself, use kitchen shears.  Dip the shears in water between snips.

Grease the loaf pan on the bottom and only 1 inch up the sides. This will eliminate a rim from forming around the edge of the baked loaf.

To make this recipe, you'll need one medium orange for the juice and peel.  Choose an orange that feels heavy for its size and allow it to come to room temperature to get the most juice.