For Better. For Worse.

In Lagos you are bound not to lack one thing, products from the Middle East. Whether it's electronics, cosmetics or food items for better or for worse you're sure to have an abundance.

I can get on board with most of the food products. All except the skeptical looking " رقائق الذرة" that is recognizable as "Corn Flakes" only by Cornelious the Rooster's profile.

I have a huge weak spot for the black olives sold in the weathered wooden barrels, the spiced roasted nuts and sweet medjool dates. I have to admit that the U.S. can grow it all, but there is nothing like eating something that grew in it's native homeland.

I had picked up a rather large pack of dates from the stores thinking that I would be able to consume them with in a matter of days. I love their naturally sweet and chewy texture with sharp blue cheese. But there they sat, forgotten on the bottom rack of my oven, tightly wrapped in styrofoam and plastic.

I needed to find a use for them that would consume the entire pack before they completely dried up on me. I set about Googling for inspiring date recipes and was quickly taken by the sound of a Coffee and Date Bread. I took the opportunity to use the dates, and truly had no intentions of re-posting the recipe here. But this bread is so richly dense with just the perfect balance of bitter coffee and sweet dates. It was all I could do from shouting out the recipe from the highest rooftops. So here it is now, on my metaphorical rooftop. No, it's not an original but with a recipe this good.... I don't so much mind.

Besides my uneasy amount of Nutella that I smeared across each slice, I made a few minuet changes/personal preferences. I swapped out half of the white sugar with brown sugar, reduced the salt and omitted the pecans.

I also had all desire to save a slice or two till it became stale enough to engulf a thick custard, and on one brilliant sunny morning I would have a unique french toast. Unfortunately and un-regrettably the loaf never made it that far. Oh well, I suppose I will just have to make another!

Coffee and Date Bread (smothered with Nutella)

Dates, chopped and pitted 145 gr (1 cup)

Baking soda 5 gr (1 Tsp)

Strong brewed coffee 235 ml (1 cup)

Soften butter, unsalted 30 gr (2 Tbsp)

White sugar 100 gr (1/2 cup)

Brown sugar 100 gr (1/2 cup)

Egg 1 pc

Vanilla extract 5 ml (1 tsp)

All-purpose flour 190 gr (1 1/2 cups)

Salt 2 gr ( 1/2 Tsp)

Nutella: As much as your heart desires.

Preheat the oven to 175 C (350 F). Grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan and coat with flour. Sake out the excess flour. Place the dates and baking soda in a bowl and pour the hot coffee over top. Set aside.

In a separate bowl mix together the butter, sugars and egg until well whipped. Stir in vanilla. Combine sifted flour and salt and add in intervals till combined. Transfer to the prepared loaf pan.

Bake for about 1 hour. Test by inserting a tooth pick into the center and gently pull it out. If the pick is clean let stand for 5 mins. Remove from pan and allow to cool on a wire rack.

If you manage to save it for french toast let me know how it is!