Dried fruit and  nut breads, were a popular standard in the part of New England where I grew up. This version is full of dates, dried cherries and chunks of chocolate. It’s a great alternative to traditional Banana or Pumpkin bread. Paired with sharp cream cheese spread or my Ricotta Cheese Dip Topping this will take you from breakfast to before bedtime snack

Ingredients

• 3 cups dried and chopped dates & dried cherries ( dried cranberries work too)
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 cup boiling water
• 2 eggs separated
• 1/2 salt
• 1 – 1 1/2 vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips ( bittersweet or dark choc)
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp melted butter ( or shortening)
• 1 cup walnuts chopped
• Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice optional

Preparation

Step 1

• Mix chopped dates and cherry with the  baking soda, pour boiling water on, and let sit until cool
• When cool strain the liquid from the date (BUT reserve the liquid ) and cherry mixture.
• Pre-heat oven to 325

Step 2

• Separate eggs
• Mix egg yolks, sugar, salt, butter and vanilla.
• Next Add flour and date and cherry liquid. Alternating until both are used up ( Usually I do this in fourths)
• Add in the date-cherry mixture and any remaining liquid, nuts, and choc chips until combine

Step 3

• Beat eggs whites to soft peaks and fold into the batter until just incorporated

Pour into 2 loaf pans or 4 -5 mini loaf pans

Top with Turbinado Sugar if you want more crunch on the top

Bake 325, 60 – 80 min middle rack until a toothpick comes out dry