1/4 c  Boiling water
1/2 c  Chopped dates
1/2 c  Sugar
1/3 c  Butter or margarine,
-at room temperature
1    Egg
1 c  Flour, sifted
1/4 ts Salt
1/2 ts Baking powder
2 ts Unsweetened cocoa
1/4 c  Sugar
3/4 c  Semi-sweet chocolate bits
1/4 c  Nuts

1. In a small bowl pour 1/4 cup boiling water over chopped dates. Let cool.
2. Lightly grease an 8-inch square, heat-resistant, non-metallic baking
pan. Set aside. 3. Cream 1/2 cup sugar and 1/3 cup butter until light and
fluffy. 4. Add egg to creamed sugar mixture. Blend well. 5. Sift together
flour, salt, baking powder and powdered cocoa. 6. Add date and flour
mixture alternately to creamed butter and sugar mixture. 7. Pour batter
into prepared pan. Smooth top of batter with spatula. 8. In small bowl
combine 1/4 cup sugar, semi-sweet chocolate bits and nuts. Sprinkle topping
mixture on top of batter and Press topping into batter, lightly. 9. Heat.
covered with clear plastic wrap in e Oven 7 minutes or until a
toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool in cake pan
10 minutes