Orange Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened
1/4 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp. orange extract
1 c. chopped dates
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1 Tbsp. grated orange rind
Orange Frosting
grated orange rind (optional)
orange segments (optional)
orange rind strips (optional)

Preparation

Cream butter and shortening.
Gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Combine flour, soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
Beat at high speed of an electric mixer for 3 minutes.
Stir in orange extract, dates, pecans and 1 tablespoon orange rind.
Pour cake batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
Bake at 350\u00b0 for 30 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool cake layers in pans 10 minutes.
Remove layers from pans; let cool completely.