Date Nut Chocolate Bread

This is a so-called quick bread as baking soda, not yeast, does the leavening that yields a dense, sweet loaf for breakfast or dessert. Have all ingredients set out and ready to go before starting. Delish spread with whipped cream cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 level cup pitted chopped dates
• ¾ cup water
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, room temp
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, room temp
• ½ cup toasted pecans, chopped
• ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
• Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Boil water; remove from heat; add dates to soak and cool 30 minutes.
3. Sift flour with baking soda and salt into a medium bowl; set aside.
4. In bowl of electric mixer, beat butter fluffy on medium speed.
5. Gradually add sugar until mix is creamy and light 1-2 minutes.
6. Beat in eggs, just to blend.
7. Add the flour mixture alternately with the dates in water.
8. Fold in the pecans and chocolate chips.
9. Transfer batter to a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with Teflon™ nonstick.
10. Bake 50 minutes until tester in center comes out clean.
11. Cool loaf on a wire rack 30-40 minutes.
12. Turn out of pan.
13. Sprinkle top of loaf with powdered sugar.
14. Slice and serve.