Fruit and Nut Bread

I love date bread!! This would be good with all dates, but I didn't have enough of them - so I added the rest of the apricots I had left over from the plum pudding for Christmas and a bit of golden raisins - it has the texture I was looking for - like the old date bread mix I used to buy, only better. The apricots give it a bit of a tangy taste - which is good because the dates are so sweet. I didn't think there was enough butter in this recipe, but it was just right as I warmed it in the microwave and slathered it with more butter any way ...

• 1 cup boiling water
• 8 ounces chopped dates, apricots, raisins
  
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts - toasted is better
  

Preparation:

Grease a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.

Pour boiling water over dates in a medium bowl; add butter and set aside.

With mixer, beat sugars and egg until light.

In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the sugar mixture, alternating with the date and water mixture.

Stir in chopped nuts.

Bake at 325° for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.