Place the dates in a mixing bowl and add boiling water. Let stand until fairly cool. Then add the brown sugar, egg, shortening and vanilla. Stir the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder into the mixture. Add nuts. Stir until mixed. Bake in a greased and floured loaf pan in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 1 hour. Remove to a cooling rack.
From. "Whole Family Cookbook" by Jeff Smith (wrv). Waldine, Slidell, La.
