Date Nut Bread

Today I decided to use up some dates I had by making a Date Nut Bread.  Here is the recipe and the results.

   Date Nut Chocolate Chip Bread
            

1 1/2 C Dates, pitted, chopped
2 1/4 C Water, boiling
1 Tbsp Baking Soda
2 C Sugar
4 Tbsp Butter, softened
2 Eggs, beaten
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
4 1/2 C All purpose flour
1 C Nuts, chopped
1 C Chocolate Chips

1.   Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2.   Combine the Baking Soda with the boiling water in a bowl.
3.   Soak the dates in the water mixture for 30 minutes.
4.   Cream the butter and sugar together.
5.   Add the Eggs, Vanilla and dates with the water and baking soda mixture.
6.   In a separate bowl blend the Salt, Baking Powder and Salt.
7.   Add the flour mixture.
8.   Blend in the Nuts and Chocolate Chips.
9.   Pour into Greased 9 x 5 loaf pans.
10. Bake for  1 hour or until done. (Toothpick test)