Date-Nut Ring

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup snipped pitted whole dates, snipped dried figs, or raisins
• 3/4 cup cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan bring water to boiling. Remove from the heat. Stir in snipped dates, snipped figs, or raisins. Let stand for 15 minutes. Do not drain dried.
2. Add cooking oil and vanilla to date mixture; stir together. Add eggs, one at a time, beating with a fork till well combined after each addition.
3. In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add date mixture to flour mixture. Stir to mix well. Stir in chopped nuts.
4. Pour batter into a greased 10-inch tube pan, 9x5x3-inch loaf pan, or two 8x4x2-inch loaf pans. Bake in a 350° oven for 50 to 60 minutes for the tube pan (for 45 to 50 minutes for the loaf pan or pans) or till a toothpick inserted near the center or centers comes out clean.
5. Cool in the pan or pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove from the pan or pans. Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm, or cool completely, wrap, and store overnight.
6. Chocolate Chip and Nut Ring: Prepare as above, except omit the 1 1/2 cups boiling water and snipped dates, figs, or raisins. In a mixing bowl beat the eggs. Add 1 1/4 cups water. Stir in cooking oil and vanilla. In another mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Stir to mix well. Stir in chopped nuts and 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate pieces.