Deep Dark Secret - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups dates, cut up
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 teaspoons butter
1 cup boiling water
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup nuts
Topping:
3 -4 bananas
2 oranges, cut up or 2 mandarin oranges
1 pint raspberries, drained
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, juice and all
1 pint whipping cream

Preparation

Combine dates, soda and butter.
Pour boiling water over; cool.
Add flour, sugar, salt, egg and vanilla.
Beat 1 minute; stir in nuts.
Bake in 9 x 13-inch pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
About 1 hour (or more) before serving, put on platter about half the cake broken in pieces.
Slice 3 or 4 bananas, 2 oranges, cut up (or use Mandarin oranges) and 1 pint raspberries, drained.
Add last half of cake pieces and pour over top 1 can crushed pineapple (juice and all).
Put in refrigerator and just before serving, top with 1 pint whipping cream.