3 c  All-purpose flour
     2 ts Double-acting baking powder
     1 ts Baking soda
     1 ts Salt
     1    Stick unsalted butter;
          -softened (1/2 cup)
     1 c  Honey
 1 1/2 ts Vanilla
     2 lg Eggs
 1 1/4 c  Buttermilk
 2 1/2 c  Chopped dried dates tossed
          -with 1
          ; tablespoon all-purpose
          -flour
     2 c  Chopped pecans or walnuts
 Into a bowl sift together the flour, the baking powder, the baking soda,
 and the salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream the butter with
 the honey and beat in the vanilla, the eggs, 1 at a time, and the
 buttermilk. Add the flour mixture, beat the batter until it is just
 combined, and stir in the dates and the pecans. Divide the batter among 5
 buttered and floured loaf pans, each 5 3/4 by 3 1/4 by 2 inches, and bake
 the breads in the middle of a preheated 350F. oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or
 until a tester comes out clean. Remove the breads from the pans and let
 them cool, right sides up, on a rack. The breads keep, wrapped well in
 plastic wrap and foil, chilled for 1 week or frozen for 1 month.
Makes 5 small loaves.
                 
                 Yields       
                1 servings