Shared by Monica Haim

This recipe was shared by Monica Haim. Read more about her family in "In Rural Alaska, Monica Haim Dreams of a Colombian-Miami Feast" and try her recipes for guava challah, arroz con fideos (rice with vermicelli noodles), and torta de espinaca (spinach and cheese pie).
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Grease the parchment with butter and sprinkle lightly with flour to coat. Tap the pan to discard the excess flour.
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add the dates and nuts.
In a small bowl, beat the eggs with 2 tablespoons of water and vanilla until combined well. Pour into the mixing bowl of dry ingredients and stir until smooth. The dough should be quite dry.
Pour the batter into the baking dish and smooth it into an even layer with a spatula. Transfer to the oven, and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.