Choco date cake

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.01
  
       Title: Choco Date Cake
  Categories: Cakes, Chocolate
       Yield: 6 servings
  
       8 oz Pitted Dates
   1 1/4 c  Water
   1 1/4 c  Unbleached All-Purpose
            -Flour; Sifted
   1 1/4 ts Baking Soda
     1/2 ts Salt
     3/4 c  Butter Or Regular Margarine
       1 c  Sugar
       2 lg Eggs
       1 ts Vanilla
     1/2 c  Quick Cooking Oats (Not
            -Instant)
       6 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips;
            -1 Pk
            Sweetened Whipped Cream
  
   Yield: 16 Servings
   
   Combine the dates and water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil, then
   reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.  Remove from the
   heat and cool completely.
   
   Sift the flour, baking soda and salt together, blending well, then set
   aside.
   
   Cream the butter and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl, until
   light and fluffy, using an electric mixer set on medium speed.  Add
   the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in
   the vanilla.
   
   Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture, blending well. Stir
   in the date mixture, oats, and chocolate chips, mixing until well
   blended. Pour the batter into a greased 13 X 9 X 2-inch baking pan.
   
   Bake in a preheated 350 Degree F oven for 35 minutes or until a cake
   tester or wooden pick inserted in the center of the cake comes out
   clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.  Serve the cake topped with
   sweetened whipped cream.
   
   From Rich Harper
   
   Taken from Farm Journal's Complete Home Baking Book By Elise W.
   Manning.
  
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