1 c. butter
1 3/4 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. orange juice
3 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. chopped dates
2 c. chopped pecans
1 sm. bottle maraschino cherries and juice
1 tbsp. grated orange rind
1 c. buttermilk

Flour the dates, nuts and cherries with one cup and mix so fruit doesn't go to bottom of pan. Cream sugar and butter and add unbeaten eggs one at a time. Vanilla goes in buttermilk. Soda goes in with salt and flour. Alternate flour mixture and liquid. Add fruit and nuts. Pour batter into well greased angel food tube pan or 3 loaf pans or salad rings. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until cake tests done. Have sauce ready and while cake is still warm, pour sauce over cake.

Sauce (Uncooked) :
1 c. orange juice (or orange and lemon juice mixed
1/2 to 1 c. sugar
1 c. shredded coconut

Mix together and pour over cake.