Mama's Date and Nut Cake

Well, my last post featured my favorite Christmas recipe of my Father, Dub Harkleroad. My Mother, Madeline always made a wonderful Date and Nut cake, which I didn't realize how good it was until I was an adult. Now I can't wait until she makes it at Christmas. Several years ago she fell and broke her arm right before Christmas so I had to make the cake, under her watchful eye. I hope you'll try it and enjoy it.

1 lb shelled English walnuts - whole or halves if possible
1 lb dates - pitted
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 eggs - separated
1⁄2 tsp baking powder
1 pkg figs (optional)
1⁄4 lb butter or margarine - melted

Combine and sift dry ingredients over fruit and nuts and mix well by hand. Add melted butter, or margarine, and stir well. Combine the four egg yolks with vanilla and pour over the other ingredients. Beat the egg whites stiff and fold into the rest of the mixture.

Line a loaf pan with wax paper and spoon in the batter. Bake in an oven at 300º for 1 - 1 1⁄2 hours. Let cool for 20 mins and turn over onto a serving plate. It is best to leave the dates whole and the nuts in large pieces as possible. You'll notice the beauty of this cake is there is only enough cake to hold the dates and nuts together.

Enjoy this wonderful cake this Christmas

RouxBDoo