Chocolate date picnic cake

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
  
       Title: Chocolate Date Picnic Cake
  Categories: Cakes, Chocolate
       Yield: 8 servings
  
            Cake:
     1/2 c  Dates; chopped
     1/2 ts Baking soda
     1/2 c  Boiling water
       1 c  Flour
     1/2 c  Sugar
       1 tb Cocoa; unsweetened
     1/4 ts Baking soda
     1/4 ts Salt
     1/2 c  Butter or margarine;
            -softened
     1/2 ts Vanilla
       1    Egg
     1/2 c  Semisweet chocolate chips
            Topping:
     1/2 c  Semisweet chocolate chips
     1/4 c  Nuts; chopped
       2 tb Sugar
  
   Recipe by: Sue Klapper
   Preparation Time: 0:35
   Heat oven to 350.  Grease and flour bottom only of 8 inch
   square pan.  In large bowl, combine dates, 1/2 teaspoon
   baking soda and water; stir.  Cool 5 mintues.  Lightly
   spoon flour into measuring cup; level off.  Add flour and
   remaining cake ingredients except chips; blend at low speed
   until well combined.  Beat 2 mintues at medium speed. S
   Stir in 1/2 cup chips.  Pour batter into greased and
   floured pan.
   Sprinkle topping ingredients evenly over batter.  Bake at
   350 for 25 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in
   center comes out clean.  Serve warm or cool; top with
   whipped cream, if desired.
   Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fruit, 4 fat.
  
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