1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 c. chopped bananas (about 3 medium)
2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. each cinnamon and allspice
1 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. chopped pitted dates

Lightly grease and flour a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan or 2 smaller loaf pans. Cream butter and sugar; add vanilla. Beat eggs and bananas well. Add to creamed mixture. Toss nuts and chopped dates in 1/2 cup flour. Sift remaining flour with salt, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, and allspice. Combine with cream mixture. Add nuts and dates to the batter, stirring in quickly. Pour into prepared pan and let set on counter for 15 minutes. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour and 25 minutes or until bread springs back when lightly touched with fingers.