Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
• 4 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 cups sweetened applesauce
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked oats (quick or old-fashioned)
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup finely chopped pitted dates
• 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (your choice, but I prefer walnuts)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

2. Beat shortening and sugar together until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. Sift together 2 cups of the flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Add alternately with applesauce to creamed mixture; blend well. Stir in oats.

4. Combine remaining 1/2 cup flour with raisins, dates, and nuts; stir to coat fruits and nuts evenly with flour. Stir into batter.

5. Pour into 2 greased and waxed paper-lined 8-1/2" x 4-1/2" x 2-1/2" loaf pans. Set a pan of hot water in the bottom of oven before adding loaves.

6. Bake loaves for 2 hours. Loosen edges; cool on wire rack about.

7. 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool thoroughly. Wrap cooled bread.

8. in plastic and store one day before slicing.