Long ago, Ron and I used to go to a restaurant in Sullivan County, NY, "Sullivan's", and order this desert toasted, with cream cheese on the side. It was scrumptious! This is my 're-creation' of that recipe.
1 1/2 cups boiling, strong coffee
1 1/2 cup chopped dates
1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups flour
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
Put the chopped dates in a small bowl. Add the hot, boiling coffee and stir in the cocoa powder and baking soda. Allow the date/coffee mixture to soak for about 10 minutes to soften the chopped dates.
Combine flour, salt, sugar and butter. Stir in the egg and mix well. Add the chopped walnuts to the batter.
Add date mixture to batter and mix well. Turn into a greased 4-1/2x8 inch loaf pan and bake at 300 degrees for an hour and 1/2, or until a toothpick comes out clean
Cool, and remove from the pan. Serve thick slices toasted with about 1 Tablespoon of cream cheese for each slice.