Chocolate Chip Date Cake
["1 c. chopped dates", "1 tsp. baking soda", "1 c. sugar", "1 c. shortening", "2 eggs", "1 tsp. vanilla", "1 3/4 c. flour", "4 tsp. cocoa", "1 c. chocolate chips", "1/2 c. chopped nuts"]
["Pour 1 cup boiling water over the dates and baking soda and let sit while preparing the rest of the recipe."]
["dates", "baking soda", "sugar", "shortening", "eggs", "vanilla", "flour", "cocoa", "chocolate chips", "nuts"]