4 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups white sugar
1 large egg
2 cups milk
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 (2 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting
In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Stir in sugar, egg, milk, celery and salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
While the mixture is heating, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat the butter, 1/4 cup at a time, into the flour mixture until well blended. Mix in the flour mixture, then the 1/2 cup butter. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture until just blended. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix just enough to just coat.
Drop cream cheese mixture by spoonfuls onto the loaf. Dust with powdered confectioners' sugar.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.