1 lb. dates
2 tsp. baking soda
2 c. boiling water
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
2 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
4 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. pecans (whole)

Grease loaf pans with butter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut up dates into 5 or 6 pieces and put into a large bowl. Sprinkle baking soda on top of dates and pour boiling water over dates. Stir and set aside.

Cream sugar, salt and butter. Add eggs and mix. Add dates with the water and stir. Stir in flour, nuts and vanilla.

Fill pans 1/2 to 3/4 full and bake 50-60 minutes until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Remove immediately from pans. After bread cools, wrap in foil. Makes 2 loaves.