Romantic Torte

Ingredients:

• 1 cup hot water
• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 1 (9 oz.) bag chocolate kisses or stars
• Maraschino cherries (optional) 
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Pour hot water over dates, sprinkle with baking soda, and let set.
2. Cream shortening and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Add flour and date mixture and mix well. Pour half of the mixture into a greased tube pan. Decorate with whole Hershey's Kisses. Pour in the rest of the mixture and decorate with kisses again. Add some maraschino cherries to the top for color and some whole nuts.
3. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour.

Submitted by Sue Stoecker