Nostalgia Date Nut Loaf

Pour 1½ cups of boiling water over the 1 cup of chopped dates in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes to soften.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a loaf pan with vegetable oil.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1¼ cups sugar, 1 egg, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, and 2 tsp vanilla extract until well combined.

Stir the softened date mixture (including the soaking water) into the sugar and egg mixture.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp baking powder.

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, then gently fold in 1 cup chopped walnuts and 1 cup Hershey's Mini Chips semi-sweet chocolate.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top evenly.

Bake for 55 minutes at 350°F, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached.

Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.