3/4 cup boiling water
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbs unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

preheat the oven to 350 degrees. spray or generously grease three clean 14-16 oz cans.

in a small bowl, pour the boiling water over the dates. stir in the baking soda. let stand until cool.

in a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla. beat in the flour, salt, and walnuts. mix in the date mixture.

pour the batter into the cans, filling each about 3/4 full. bake in the center of the oven for 45 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

cool for 5 minutes in the cans. loosen the breads from the cans and remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

makes 3 mini loaves