Picnic Cake

This is copied from an email my mom sent me 7/8/2010.

FANNY'S PICNIC CAKE Nana (Fanny Miller Strand) served this cake on the 4th of July.

1. Combine and cool

• 1 cup finely chopped dates 
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• 1 tsp. soda

2. In mixing bowl cream together

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine

3. Add and beat well

• 2 eggs, beaten

4. Add to creamed mixture

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

5. Combine in a separate bowl

• 1 1/2 cups plus 3 Tbsp. flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt (Nana deleted the salt)

6. Add cooled date mixture alternately with dry ingredients to creamed mixture.

7. Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch pan. (Nana used a 14 x 11)

8. Sprinkle over cake mixture (Nana used 1/2 cup instead of 3/4 cup of each of the following)

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts

9. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes

YIELD: 1 9x13-inch cake. Cut into 20 pieces 2"x3" (255 calories per serving).

This recipe was published and distributed by Mountain Fuel Supply Company (now Questar Gas).