Skip to main content

Featured

Taking on the 2026 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge

Image courtesy of Family Locket, used with permission.   It's January and time for the 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge brought to us by the mother-daughter team of Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer at Family Locket . I love the dedicated time to focus on a particular research question. The challenge takes researchers through the 7-step Research Like a Pro process to solve genealogical questions.  Here's what I've done in the first seven days of the challenge:    Day 1 - Objective: Research Question My question for this year's challenge flows from some research I did last year on Maria Jane Darragh, a second great-grandmother. While I have learned a good deal about her already, some questions remain. First, why was Maria Jane's mother, Dorah Elliot Darragh, buried in the same plot as Joanna Elliot? Dorah Darragh died on 12 October 1856, while Joanna Elliot died three months prior, on 15 August 1856. Both are buried at St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery in Chats...

Grandma Gilbride's Date & Nut Bread, 1974

Date & Nut Bread is Santa-approved!

Our genealogy writing group is getting together this week and some of us are going to bring a holiday goodie to share. One of my absolute favorite holiday treats is my Grandma Gilbride's Date & Nut Bread. Grandma Gilbride was born Mary Josephine Baker (1911-1981) in Cleveland. She married my grandfather, Joseph John Gilbride (1910-1990) in 1934 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

I don't have any real memory of Grandma Gilbride making this bread though we probably enjoyed some on a holiday visit to my grandparents' house. Clearly Mom thought it was a winner and asked for the recipe and she started making this bread when I was in my early teens. The recipe card I inherited is dated 12/21/1974. 

When baked the bread usually has a peak running down the length, which cracks open a bit. It's moist, dense, and sweet, with a little crunch of walnuts and nuggets of diced dates. The bread is perfect with a little cream cheese spread on top or just on its own.


I now wonder if anyone knows whether this was a Baker or Cassidy family recipe passed on to Grandma or she found the recipe, decided to make it, and it became a holiday favorite. Cousins? Anyone? 

Maybe you'd like a little slice of heavenly Date & Nut Bread, so here's the recipe copied from Mom's recipe card:

Grandma Gilbride's Date & Nut Bread 12/21/74

POUR 1-1/2 c. boiling water over

1-1/2 c. diced dates. Let cool. 

(8 oz box = 1-1/2 c.)

STIR 1/2 c. brown sugar

1 Tablespoon soft shortening

1 egg

ADD Dates & water

MIX 2-1/4 c. sifted flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

BLEND 1 c. chopped walnuts

POUR into greased 9 x 5 x 3" loaf pan

Let stand for 20 minutes

BAKE 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean

NOTE: Will be moist. Top may crack. 

 

Until next time...happy snacking!

© Nancy Gilbride Casey, 2025. All rights reserved. 

 

Comments

  1. This bread looks so yummy! Great photos too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My little group enjoyed it today! (I've since eaten another slice!!) So yummy!!

      Delete
  2. Yum! What a fun post. Thanks for sharing your memories and the recipe for all to enjoy! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you try the recipe, you'll have to let me know what you think! Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  3. Merci Nancy pour le souvenir et la recette : Très appétissant ! Très Lorsque j’étais enfant, ma mère préparait un gâteau de Noël qui ne demande pas de cuisson, un ‘Chrëschtdag Kuch’ (mes parents parlaient le luxembourgeois, le même que tes ancêtres Anne Marie Cailteux et Peter Schiltz). Le gâteau était composé de plusieurs couches de biscuits ‘petits beurre’ recouverts d’une crème au beurre, au chocolat et au café très fort. Until next time. Cousin Daniel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh là là, Daniel, ça a l'air délicieux ! Je vous souhaite, à vous et à votre famille, de très bonnes vacances ! À la prochaine...

      Delete
  4. Sounds delicious and doesn't have a lot of sugar, though the dates will sweeten it up, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly what my friend said when I told her how much sugar was in it! Hope you have a delicious holiday!

      Delete
  5. I enjoyed the date bread with our Roots Writers group. It was delicious and would be great addition to a holiday gathering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sandra. I hope you have a lovely holiday with your family!

      Delete

Post a Comment