Ingredients:

1½ cups dates, quartered
1½ cups boiling water
2 tablespoons shortening
1½ cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2¾ cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup chopped nuts
½ teaspoon vanilla

 Directions:

Pour water over dates, add shortening, sugar and salt. Cool. Add egg. Sift flour with baking soda and cream of tartar. Add dry ingredients to date mixture and beat well with spoon. Then add chopped nuts and vanilla. Bake in bread pan 1¼ hours in moderate oven (350 degrees).