Shelly's Recipe

ORANGE-DATE LOAVES

Category: Quick Breads

Serve with Fluffy Orange Butter, if desired.

4 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp finely shredded orange peel
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 beaten eggs
3/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/3 cup cooking oil
1 8 oz pkg chopped pitted dates
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, orange peel, baking soda, and salt. In another mixing bowl stir together eggs, 1/2 cup of the thawed orange juice concentrate, the oil, and 1 1/2 cups water. Add to flour mixture. Stir by hand just until combined. Fold in dates and nuts.

Divide mixture evenly between two greased 8 inchx4 inchx2 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean. (Or, divide mixture evenly among 4 loaf pans and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until loaves test done.) Cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove from pans. Generously brush tops and sides of loaves with remaining orange juice concentrate. Cool thoroughly on wire racks. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.