Chocolate Chip Date Cake
["1 c. butter (do not substitute)", "1 c. sugar", "2 eggs", "1 1/2 c. flour", "1 Tbsp. cocoa", "1 tsp. vanilla", "1 c. chocolate chips", "1/2 to 3/4 c. chopped nuts", "1 tsp. baking soda", "1 small pkg. dates, chopped"]
["Put dates in 1 cup boiling water.", "Add baking soda; set aside to cool.", "Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs.", "Mix cocoa with flour.", "Add flour mixture and date mixtures alternately to butter mixture, then add vanilla."]
["butter", "sugar", "eggs", "flour", "cocoa", "vanilla", "chocolate chips", "nuts", "baking soda", "dates"]