Pour boiling water over the dates in a small bowl. Cover and allow to sit for at least one hour, overnight recommended.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Beat sugar and egg together in a large bowl until creamy.

Sift together dry ingredients.

Add dates and liquid alternately with dry ingredients to the sugar egg mixture, ending with the dry ingredients.

Stir in walnuts, butter, and vanilla.

Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 1hr15min or until done.

When cool enough to handle, wrap cake in wax paper and foil to keep moist. Delicious served with cream cheese.