Apricot Cheese Loaf

Ingredients

• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 3 tablespoons margarine
• 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.

Pour boiling water over apricot pieces in a small bowl. Cool.

In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and dates.

In a large bowl, cream butter or margarine, cream cheese, and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Stir in cooled apricots and water. Pour in flour mixture, and stir until moistened. Turn batter into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until it tests done. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove from pan to rack. Cool.