Joyous' Delicious Date Bread

This recipe was donated by Lena Krueger, Mankato, MN.  Back in 2003 she shared some of the bread with friends and family.  She explained that in days gone by Joyous lived across adjoining lawns.  This was when the backyards served more as football fields for the children rather than as lush green lawns.   Back then Sundays were days of rest.  Dads grilled hamburgers and an occasional steak.  Moms prepared the potato salad and fresh garden vegetables and cut the watermelon.  The family gathered together around the picnic table to enjoy it all. 

The recipe was so well-liked that she offered to pass it on.

Joyous’ Delicious Date Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 mL) sugar

2 tablespoons (30 mL) butter or margarine

1 egg

1 cup (250 mL) dates (8 ounces or 227 grams)

1 cup (250 mL) boiling water

1 teaspoon (5 mL) baking soda

1 teaspoon (5 mL) salt

1 ¼ cups (300 mL) flour

½ cup (125 mL) walnuts, chopped

1 teaspoon (5 mL) vanilla

 

Directions: 

Mixture #1.  Dice dates.  Add baking soda.  Pour boiling water over dates.  Let cool, stirring occasionally.  Let sit overnight.    

Mixture #2.  In separate bowl, cream sugar and butter.  Add egg.  Mix well. 

Mixture #3.  In another separate bowl mix flour and salt. 

Gradually and alternately blend mixtures #2 and #3 into Mixture #1.     

Add vanilla and nuts. 

Coat bottom of baking pan with grease or non-stick spray. 

Pour into loaf pan for bread, or a cake pan for cake.  Bake about an hour at 350 degrees

Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius).