Orange Slice Cake

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 cup butter softened
• 0.5 cup buttermilk 
• 1.3 cups coconut or shredded
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar 
• 1 pound dates pitted chopped
• 4  eggs 
• 3.5 cups flour all-purpose
• 1 pound orange candy chopped
• 1 cup orange juice 
• 2 cups pecans chopped
• 2 cups sugar white

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• mixing bowl
• wooden spoon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour one 10 inch tube pan.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream margarine and granulated sugar until smooth.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk and add to the creamed mixture.
4. Place flour in a large bowl and add dates, orange slices, and nuts. Stir to coat each piece.
5. Add flour mixture and coconut to creamed mixture. This makes a very stiff dough, so it will be necessary to stir with a wooden spoon.
6. Pour batter into the tube pan.
7. Bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. As soon as cake comes from oven, combine the orange juice and confectioners sugar and pour over hot cake.
8. Let stand in pan overnight.