date + walnut loaf

225g chopped dates
110g muscovado sugar
140g butter, small pieces
2 tbsp bicarbonate of soda
120ml boiling water
1 egg, beaten
400g plain flour
a pinch of salt
55g chopped walnuts
1 tsp vanilla extract

Heat the oven to 170C/fan 150C. Put dates, sugar and butter in a bowl and pour over the boiling water, stirring. Add the egg, flour, salt, walnuts and vanilla extract and beat well. Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin and pour in the mixture. Bake 1-1½ hours. After 1 hour check with a skewer to see if done - it should come out clean. Turn onto a wire rack to cool.