Banana-Date Nut Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. double-acting baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. shortening, butter or margarine
1 c. mashed bananas (about 2 very ripe, medium bananas)
1 c. pitted dates, chopped
1 c. California walnuts, coarsely chopped
2 eggs, slightly beaten

Preparation

About 2 hours before serving or day ahead:
Preheat oven to 350\u00b0.
Grease and flour 8 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan.
In large bowl, with fork, mix first 5 ingredients.
With pastry blender or 2 knives used scissor-fashion, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
With fork, stir in bananas, dates, walnuts and eggs just until blended; spread batter evenly in pan. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
Makes 1 loaf.