(DATE, ALMOND AND WALNUT TORTE)

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup almonds, chopped
1 cup dates, cut-up
whipped cream, optional

Note: This incredibly simple dessert is also incredibly delicious. The trick here is in using scissors to cut up the dates and then mixing the dates and the nuts together slowly to make sure the sticky fruit doesn't clump together.

Beat eggs with sugar in bowl. Add softened butter and vanilla extract and beat well to mix. Sift together flour and baking powder, add to egg mixture and stir to combine.

Put walnuts and almonds in bowl and stir to combine. Add dates, little at time, stirring to mix very thoroughly. Add nut mixture to cake batter and fold very carefully and thoroughly.

Line 9" round baking pan with parchment paper. Pour mixture into pan and bake at 300 degrees F until wooden skewer stuck in middle comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Serve with whipped cream on side.

Yield: 8 Servings.