Old fashioned Date & Walnut Loaf

This is another OLD recipe I used to make before I was married.  It actually came from an ex-boyfriend’s mother in Melbourne, it takes about 5 minutes to whip it all up once the dates and walnuts are chopped and pop it in the oven.  Thought I would jazz it up a bit by baking it in this cute little tin for a change.  Great buttered and sliced but as we are trying to give up the butter we will just eat it on it’s own 🙂

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped Dates
1 cup chopped Walnuts
1 cup Boiling Water
3/4 cup sugar (I cut it back from 1 cup)
2 cups Plain Flour
1tsp Bicarb Soda
1tsp vanilla
1tsp Baking Powder
1 tbsp. Butter chopped in tiny pieces
1 egg, beaten

Method:

1. Sprinkle soda over dates, add boiling water, chopped butter and sugar.
2. Stir to mix well.  When it cools a little, add the beaten egg
3. Now stir in the sifted flour, baking powder, walnuts and vanilla and beat well.
4. Spoon into a loaf or small ring tin as pictured and bake @ 160° Fan Forced or 180° Conventional for 40-45 minutes until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
5. Let it sit in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out.

Delicious with a cup of tea 🙂