Eight Ingredients Plus

It’s so incredibly simple, eight ingredients, easy to prepare, and, oh so good.

The recipe was given to me decades ago by another young bride. Our husbands worked together and both families had just relocated to the D.C. office. It was the first Christmas we had spent away from home and we were all grateful for the welcoming hospitality.

Today I still remember that snowy December afternoon and the gift Fran presented to our hostess The lovely young Texan mentioned it had been her Grandmother’s Yuletide tradition. Several days later she thoughtfully mailed me the recipe, and I have treasured it ever since..

But this year I thought, Why bother?

So many I loved and who had once received the small gift wrapped package no longer celebrate the day as mortals.

I always believed the best part of making the date nut loaf was the phone calls, emails and messages that we always received after the gifts were opened.

Now, my beloved helper, who always shelled the walnuts, was gone too.

“So why bother,” I thought, pushing the poignant memory back as far as I could into my subconscious.

This afternoon Hunter, a young student, who has recently been spending time with me, asked an innocent question. It was a provocative one that literally opened a Pandora’s box.

“Did your family have a traditional recipe for Christmas”

“Of course,”I replied, suddenly recalling the rich fragrant aroma that seeped through the little white house beginning each December.

“I began to bake the loaves of bread the day after Thanksgiving,” I explained, “because they taste better several weeks after being made. After they cooled, we carefully wrapped each one in colored cellophane, tied them with a plaid ribbon, and packed them carefully for Christmas gifts.”

“A few were hand delivered the week before Christmas, several were presented at the annual Christmas parties we attended, and one was always sliced thinly, dabbed with whipped cream, and served to all of our holiday guests,’’

While telling Hunter the story, I turned to my Ipad, and retrieved the almost forgotten annual Christmas note which I had preserved in Pages.

DATE NUT BREAD INGREDIENTS:

4 EGGS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

1 CUP SUGAR

1 CUP FLOUR

1 TSP. SALT

2 TSP. BAKING POWDER

2 TSP. VANILLA

1 LB. DATES CUT UP

1 QT. NUTS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9 inch loaf pan. Combine sugar, flour, salt, baking powder; add dates and mix well. When well combined, add eggs and vanilla and fold in nuts. Scrape batter into pan and smooth top. Bake 1 hour or until cake tester is dry when inserted into center of cake.

This cake remains well in refrigerator for 30 days, and tastes better the day after being baked.It may be served sliced thin either alone or topped with whipped cream.

REFRIGERATE…..FREEZE….OR….EAT AND ENJOY!!!

Love and Merry Christmas from both of us

Reading it, Immediately I realized that this year should not be different. Today God has once again blessed me with the joy of new friends who can now share what was once our traditional gift,

I also know that I will forever hold in my heart all those no longer here as each fragrant loaf bakes..

But even more importantly, the Christmas message once sent from all our family will endure for another year..