Queen elizabeth cake 2

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
  
       Title: QUEEN ELIZABETH CAKE 2
  Categories: Cakes
       Yield: 1 Servings
  
       1 c  -Boiling water
       1 c  Dates;chopped
       1 ts Baking soda
     1/2 c  Butter
       1 c  Sugar,granulated
       1    Egg
       1 ts Vanilla
   1 1/2 c  Flour,all purpose
       1 ts Baking powder
     1/2 ts -Salt
 
 ------------------------------BROILED TOPPING------------------------------
     1/4 c  Butter
     1/2 c  Brown sugar;packed
     1/4 c  Light cream
     3/4 c  Coconut;shredded;half nuts
            -if desired
  
     In a reply to our query about the name of this recipe, the Queen Mother's
   Lady-in-Waiting writes; "I fear I have to tell you that, although we have
   known about this recipe for many years, it did not originate from either
   Buckingham Palace or Clarence House...However as Her Majesty always made it
   a rule, due to the number of requests received, never to give "favorite
   recipes", I fear that I have to tell you that you that should you wish to
   include this recipe in any cookbook, it should only be called a 'date and
   walnut cake' with no reference to the Queen Mother."
   
   Pour water over dates and soda; let stand until lukewarm. In bowl, cream
   butter with sugar; beat in egg and vanilla. Mix together flour, baking
   powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with date mixture.
   Spread in a greased and floured 9 inch square cake pan. Bake in 350F oven
   for 40 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Broiled Topping: In a small
   heavy saucepan, combine butter, packed brown sugar, light cream and coconut
   (half nuts if desired). Bring to a boil, stirring; boil gently for 1
   minute. Spread over warm baked cake; broil until bubbly and lightly
   browned, watching carefully.
   
   SOURCE: The Forties chapter, _A Century of Canadian Home Cooking_
  
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