Banana date and nut bread.

This bread is an amazing way to start your Ramadan daily fast. It's packed with nuts and dates and will keep your tummy full and energy going throughout the day. Eat it with a tall cup of cold milk and call it Sahoor.


Ingredients
2 cups self rising flour
3/4 teapoon baking soda
1/4 teapoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/2 teapoon ginger powder
1/4 teapoon cardamon powder
1/2 cup butter (melted and cooled)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup mashed banana
3/4 cup chopped medjool dates
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (toasted and cooled)


Directions
Preheat your oven to 350*. Butter and flour (or spray with a non stick vegetable/flour spray) the bottom and sides of a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 8 cm) loaf pan. Set aside. In a large bowl combine your flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and walnuts. Set aside. In a medium bowl whisk your eggs with the butter, vanilla, buttermilk, and banana puree. With a rubber spatula gently fold in half of your wet ingredients into your dry mix. Add your chopped dates and fold twice. Add the remainder of your wet ingredients and fold just until combined. Be carful not to overmix this batter or you will end up with a rubber like loaf of bread. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for approximately 50 minutes or until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean (the loaf should be golden brown). Place on a wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.