1 lb. dates
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 block butter
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. nuts, chopped fine
1 c. raisins
1 c. boiling water
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 jar cherries, cut in half
1 egg

Mix dates with boiling water to which 1 teaspoon baking soda has been added. Set aside.

Cream sugar, butter, egg, then add wet ingredients. Add vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeats, then add flour which has been sifted 2 or 3 times. Grease wax paper and place on bottom of cake pan. Bake 1 hour in moderate oven.