1/4 c  Boiling water

    1/2 c  Chopped dates

    1/2 c  Sugar

    1/3 c  Butter or margarine,

           -at room temperature
      1    Egg

      1 c  Flour, sifted

    1/4 t  Salt

    1/2 t  Baking powder

      2 t  Unsweetened cocoa

    1/4 c  Sugar

    3/4 c  Semi-sweet chocolate bits

    1/4 c  Nuts

  1. In a small bowl pour 1/4 cup boiling water over chopped dates. Let cool.

  2. Lightly grease an 8-inch square, heat-resistant, non-metallic baking

  pan.
  Set aside.
  3. Cream 1/2 cup sugar and 1/3 cup butter until light and fluffy.

  4. Add egg to creamed sugar mixture. Blend well.

  5. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder and powdered cocoa.

  6. Add date and flour mixture alternately to creamed butter and sugar

  mixture.
  7. Pour batter into prepared pan. Smooth top of batter with spatula.

  8. In small bowl combine 1/4 cup sugar, semi-sweet chocolate bits and nuts.

  Sprinkle topping mixture on top of batter and Press topping into batter,
  lightly.
  9. Heat. covered with clear plastic wrap in Microwave Oven 7 minutes or

  until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool in
  cake pan 10 minutes