1 cup butter or margarine -- softened

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/3 cups buttermilk

1 cup chopped dates

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 T grated orange rind

Glaze: 1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup sugar

2 T grated orange rind

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, beat well. Combine dry ingredients and add alternately with the buttermilk. Fold in walnuts, dates and orange rind. Pour into two 8 1/2 inch greased and floured pans and bake at 350F. degrees for about an hour. Combine the glaze ingredients and pour half over the hot loaves. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pans.Spoon remaining glaze over loaves.

Can be made ahead and frozen. From Taste of Home magazine, Dec.'94 Posted on Kitmailbox by GladRag@aol.com