INGREDIENTS
2 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons sifted all purpose flour, divided
4 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup butter or margarine
¾ cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 ¼ cups Hale orange juice
1 teaspoon grated Hale orange peel
1 ½ cups chopped pitted dates
1 ½ cups chopped walnuts
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350F. Sift together 2 ½ cups flour, baking powder and salt. In large mixing blow, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Combine orange juice and orange peel; add to creamed mixture alternately with flour mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Toss dates and nuts with remaining 2 tablespoons flour; fold into batter. Turn into a grease and floured 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan. Bake in a 350F. oven 1 hour and 10 minutes in pan. Turn out on wire rack; cool completely, top side up.
YIELD: 1 loaf.