Recipe: Pat Nixon's California Date Nut Bread (Heloise column, 1960's)

PAT NIXON'S CALIFORNIA DATE NUT BREAD

1 pound packaged dates
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon butter
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 egg
2 3/4 cups flour
1 cup chopped nuts
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cut dates into small pieces and place in a bowl. Add baking soda to boiling water and pour over dates in bowl.

Set aside and let mixture stand. With a mixer, cream butter and sugar together. Add the egg.

Strain water from the date mixture into the cream, sugar and egg mixture. Add flour and beat well. Add nuts, dates and vanilla. Pour the mixture into greased loaf pans.

Bake for one hour in a 350 degree F oven.

Source: Hints from Heloise newspaper column
1961