Recipe: Chock Full O'Nuts Date Nut Bread with Cream Cheese and Walnut Spread

CHOCK FULL O' NUTS DATE NUT BREAD
WITH CREAM CHEESE AND WALNUT SPREAD

1 1/2 cups pitted dates; chopped
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg; beaten
3 tbsp shortening; melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup coarsely-chopped walnuts
FOR THE CREAM CHEESE AND WALNUT SPREAD:
cream cheese, softened
finely-chopped walnuts

Place dates in a mixing bowl and add boiling water. Let stand until fairly cool.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a loaf pan.

Add brown sugar, egg, shortening and vanilla to the cooled date mixture. Stir flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder into mixture. Add coarsely chopped walnuts and stir until well mixed. Place in prepared pan.

Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven for 1 hour. Remove to a cooling rack.

For the spread, combine cream cheese and walnuts (in desired amounts) and serve on the side.