Beer Can Date Bread

8 Empty beer cans 1 c Maple syrup

2 tb Soda 1 tb Vanilla

1 c Dates 2 Eggs

2 c Beer 4 c Whole wheat pastry flour

3 tb Butter 1 c Pecans

Remove tops from beer cans with can opener; lightly oil insides. Sprinkle soda on dates. Heat beer to boiling and pour over date/soda mixture; set aside to cool. Cream together butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and eggs. Stir in flour. Add nuts and cooled date mixture. Spoon batter into cans, filling only 1/2 full. Bake with cans standing up on cookie sheet, at 350 degrees for 15-30 minutes; look for tops to split and test for doneness. Do not cut bread for 1 day; bread may break up, if it is sliced while still warm. -----