Categories: Cakes 
      Yield: 12 servings 
  
  1 1/2 c  Dates; diced 
      2    Eggs, beaten 
    1/2 ts Salt 
      1 ts Baking soda 
      1 c  Water; hot 
      3 ts Water; hot 
      2 c  Flour 
      1 ts Cocoa 
      1 ts Vanilla 
      1 c  Sugar 
      1 c  Butter or margarine 
      1 c  Chocolate chips; 6 oz 
    1/2 c  Nuts; chopped 
  
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place dates in small bowl. Sprinkle with 
  baking soda; add hot water. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes to plump dates. 
  In large mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter or margarine together. 
  Add eggs. Beat well again. Sift flour, salt and cocoa together. Add 
  dry ingredients to sugar-butter mixture in small amounts, alternating 
  with date mixture. Add vanilla and mix well. Fold in 1/2 cup of 
  chocolate chips. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 x 2" baking 
  pan. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips and chopped nuts over top. 
  Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out 
  clean.