1 c Butter; room temperature
2 c Sugar
2 Eggs; room temperature
2 ts Vanilla
2 c Pitted dates; chopped coarse
3 c Applesauce
2 c Walnuts; chopped coarse
2 c Raisins
2 c Mixed candied fruit; chopped
-coarse 1/2 ts Salt
1 ts Ground cinnamon
1/2 ts Ground cloves
1 tb Baking soda
4 c All-purpose flour
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla. Add remaining ingredients and blend until all is incorporated. Divide batter among 3 greased loaf pans, about 8 x 4 x 3-inches each. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out
clean. Remove to a cooling rack. When cool enough to handle, remove the loaves from the pans and cool completely on a rack. Wrap in plastic wrap and keep in refrigerator. The Tampa Tribune, December 1992. —–