BANANA DATE CAKE

2 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup ripe mashed bananas
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup finely chopped dates
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
powdered sugar (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease well a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.

Sift flour with baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In large bowl, with electric mixer at high speed, beat butter, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla, occasionally scraping side of bowl with scraper, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes; set aside.

In small bowl, combine banana and buttermilk. At low speed, beat in flour mixture (in quarters) alternately with banana mixture (in thirds), beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in dates and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake 1 hour and 10 to 15 minutes, or until cake tests done. Cool in pan on wire rack 15 minutes. Then turn out on rack; cool completely.

Dust top of cooled cake with powdered sugar. Serve in slices.

Makes 1 loaf
Adapted from source: Magazine Clipping