Chocolate Chip Torte

 Why this is called a torte puzzles me...wish I would have asked the dear lady that gave me the recipe many years ago.  Dorothy Somers and her husband attended the same church that our family did.  She shared this recipe, among many others, that I treasure since her passing several years ago.

 I was reluctant to try this recipe until she provided us with a sample...it became a favorite then and there!

 The "secret" she said was the use of dates!

Chocolate Chip Torte

1 cup diced dates

1 cup hot water

1 teaspoon soda

Pour soda over the dates in a bowl and then add HOT water.  Allow to stand while preparing the following:

Sift together:

1  1/3 cup flour

3 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream together:

1 cup shortening

1 cup  sugar

Add:

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

To the creamed mixture add the dry and date mixture alternately (beginning and ending with dry ingredients).  Mix until well blended and then stir in:

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cups chopped nuts

Grease a 9" x 13" pan and flour the bottom

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes

Dorothy was quite a lady, she came off quite gruff as many youngsters thought but she and her husband never had children so she had little tolerance for noise in church.  One particular Sunday morning one of our girls made a little noise and Ben took her our of church...that was a big mistake as far as Dorothy was concerned...she scolded Ben and said those two girls of yours are always good and you don't take them out again! 

Dorothy was so kind hearted and she is missed by those of us that were blessed to call her a special friend!