Depression-Era Orange Date Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 - 1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 -2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon warm water
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 orange, zest of, grated
1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped dates (can use raisins)
GLAZE
1 orange, juice of
1/2 cup sugar

Preparation

Set oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 9 x 9-inch glass baking pan.
In a bowl cream the butter with egg and vanilla until light and fluffy.
Place the buttermilk into a bowl.
In a small cup or bowl dissolve the baking soda in warm water and stir into the buttermilk.
In another bowl sift the flour with baking powder, salt and orange zest; add into creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture; stir until blended.
Mix in the nuts and raisins.
Transfer to prepared baking pan.
Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until the cake tests done.
For the glaze; in a bowl mix orange juice with 1/2 cup sugar and pour over the hot cake while still in the pan to form a glaze.
Cool before slicing.