Pretty darn close to VDK Date nut Bread

This bread is great slathered in butter while still warm.

Ingredients

• 4 oz. moist, fresh, pitted dates chopped up as fine as possible.
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 4 tbsp melted butter
• 1 beaten egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp real vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup walnut peices
• 1 & 1/3 cup unbleached flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions

Combine the dates and water in a pan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and use a hand blender to puree the mixture. Return to low heat and add the sugar and butter. Stir until the sugar melts. Remove from heat. Temper the beaten egg with some of the warm mixture, then whisk in the egg to the rest of the mixture being careful not to overheat and scramble the egg. (You may want to let the hot mixture cool 15 minutes to make sure this doesn't happen.) Add the salt and walnut pieces. Mix the flour and baking powder, then stir this into the warm mixture. Use a two-pronged fork for this and only mix until the batter is smooth. (Note: the heating routine can be skipped if a food processor is used to puree the dates and water.) Pour into a greased, 8 x 4 inch glass bread pan and bake for 50 - 60 minutes in a 325 degree (F) oven. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted into the middle of the loaf. Remove from the oven and cover immediately and tightly with aluminum foil for at least one hour before slicing.

Submitted 3/26/10.
Source: Wayne Schmidt
Submitted By: Carrie U
csalt7@gmail.com
Pretty darn close to VDK Date nut Bread