Picnic Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 small package dates (8 oz), cut up

Pour 1 ½ cups boiling water over dates

Add 1 teaspoon baking soda and cool

Cream:

1 cup sugar

¾ cup shortening

Add:

2 eggs

Sift together:

2 cups flour

¾ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

Add dry ingredients alternately with liquid from date mixture to creamed mixture. Add dates last. Stir gently.

Pour into greased 9” x 13” pan.

Spread over the top:

½ cup pecans – broken up

½ cup chocolate chips

Gently pat down.

Sift 2 tablespoons sugar over all

Bake 35 minutes (test-may take longer)

Family History – This was always a church favorite from Elsie Cayo at American Lutheran Memorial.