Date and Walnut Loaf

It's been a long time... I'm still here, fine and kicking!

Some days ago I was reading some craft magazines I subscribed to earlier and in one of them I discovered this one; date and walnut loaf. Easy to remember buying dates and walnuts only - the other ingredients were already in stock! :)

Ingredients:

- 100 grams pitted dates

- 150 ml water

- 40 grams walnut or pecan kernels

- 125 grams softened butter

- 175 grams brown sugar

- 2 eggs

- 230 grams self raising flour

- 20 grams wholemeal flour

- 1 tsp baking powder

In addition, I added:

- little bit cinnamon

- vanilla essence

- poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

Chop the dates roughly...

... and place half in a small pot with the water. Bring to boil, remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Beat the butter and sugar with an electric beater until light and fluffy, adding the eggs one at a time.

Stir in the date mixture (water included), the remaining dates and chopped walnuts.

Add vanilla essence, poppy seeds and cinnamon - if you'd like. 

Sift the flours and baking powder together, then fold into the loaf batter.

Spoon into a greased, floured loaf tin and bake for 40 minutes or until golden and cooked through. (Mine took 50 minutes).

Very easy to make - and it tastes heavenly! I can just dream of how it will taste either with cold, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream! :)

The recipe is from the Australian craft magazine Handmade Vol.27 / #5.