Date and Pecan Loaf

3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chopped dates
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup soft butter
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup boiling water
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour

Combine pecans, dates, soda, butter, salt, and boiling water. Allow this mixture to stand for 15 minutes. Beat in eggs, vanilla, sugar, and flour. Don’t overmix. Put batter into greased and floured loaf pan (9x5x3 inches). Bake in preheated oven (350ºF) approximately 70-80 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides with spatula. Place loaf on cake rack to cool for 2 hours.