Iraq Date and Nut Pie: Hilwat Tamar

1/2 cup coarsely chopped blanched almonds
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup half and half cream
1 pound dates, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon orange flower water (mazahar)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Combine almonds, walnuts, and sugar and set aside.

Melt butter in a frying pan; stir in cream, dates, cinnamon, and mazahar. Cook over low heat until dates become soft, stirring once in a while to make sure the dates do not stick. Add a little more cream if necessary. Stir in nut mixture and cook for another 3 minutes.

Spread evenly in a greased pie pan; then bake in an oven preheated to 300 degrees F., for 15 minutes. Remove from oven; then sprinkle with sesame seeds. allow to cool; then cut into thin wedges. Serves 6 to 8.