Grandma Teasdale's Picnic Cake!

1 heaping Cup cut up dates
Place in a bowl

1 1/2 C boiling water (very important that it is boiling and not just hot)
1 tsp baking soda
baking soda should fizz/bubble when boiling water is poured on it.
If soda fizzed, pour over dates


1 C sugar
3/4 shortening
Cream in mixer
Add date mixture

2 eggs
Beat in
Add in:
1 1/2 Cups four
1 T cinnamon
1 T vanilla
1/4 T Salt


Mix well
Pour into greased, floured pan, sprinkle with Pecans (optional), Chocolate chips, and Brown Sugar
Bake 40 min at 350