Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1            Package  dates -- (8 ounce)
  1 1/4           Cups  Coke or Pepsi or other cola drink
  1                Cup  golden or brown sugar - packed firmly
  2        Tablespoons  canola oil
  2               Cups  flour
  1           Teaspoon  baking soda
  1           Teaspoon  baking powder
  1           Teaspoon  cinnamon
  1           Teaspoon  fresh minced ginger or 3/4 teaspoon
                        ginger powder
  2          Teaspoons  lemon zest - finely minced
  1                     egg (or 2 whites lightly beaten)
  2        Tablespoons  strong coffee
     1/4           Cup  chopped pecans (optional)

Preparation:

Pan options: Two 7 by 3 inch loaf pans, one 9 by 5 inch loaf pan or 2 quart specialty bundt pan.

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray baking pan(s) with cooking spray.

2. Chop dates. Heat cola to a gentle boil. Remove from heat and stir in dates, mixing very well. Stir in sugar and oil and allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in egg and coffee.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, powder, cinnamon, ginger, lemon zest salt, and nuts. Fold dry ingredients into cola and date mixture.

4. Spoon batter into pan(s). Bake about one hour until cake(s) tests done. Cool on a rack for 20 minutes then remove from pan and wrap.

Nutritional Information:

368 Calories (kcal); 7g Total Fat; (16% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 75g Carbohydrate; 23mg Cholesterol; 239mg Sodium