Fat Free Date Bran Bread

This is a very solid textured bread.

3/4 pound dates, diced
2 cups boiling water
2 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup raw sugar
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups whole bran
1 cup chopped nuts
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Place the dates in a bowl. Pour the boiling water over dates and let cool.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Beat the eggs until very light and thick. Gradually beat in the sugar until mixture makes a rope when dropped from the beaters.

Sift together the whole wheat flour, baking powder and baking soda.

Fold one cup of the whole wheat flour mixture into the egg mixture. Fold in half the dates, half the soaking water, white flour and vanilla.

Stir in remaining whole wheat flour, mixture, remaining dates and water, the bran, nuts and salt. Turn mixture into a 10-inch tube pan with bottom buttered and floured. Bake 50 minutes or until done. Cool in pan 20 minutes before turning out.

Yield: Twelve to sixteen servings.