Angela Lansberry Walnut Date Bread
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 scant cup of boiling water
1 cup of chopped pitted dates
2/3 cup of walnut pieces
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1-3/4 cup of unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
Strawberry cream cheese, optional

Preheat oven to 325ºF. Place butter, baking soda, boiling water and
dates into a heatproof mixing bowl. Let cool. Mix in walnuts, sugar,
egg yolk, flour and vanilla. Generously oil a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan and
dust with flour. Pour batter into pan. Bake in 325ºF. oven for 1 hour.
Cool for 10 minutes and remove from pan onto rack to cool. Slice and
serve with strawberry cream cheese and freshly brewed tea.