Queen Elizabeth Cake - in Honor of the Royal Wedding

From Memma's Recipes----------

Queen Elizabeth Cake
1 pkg dates
1 tsp soda
1 cup of boiling water
1 cup of sugar
1 stick of margarine
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp of salt
1 tsp of vanilla
1/2 cup pecans

Cut up one pkg dates, add one tsp of soda and 1 cup boiling water.  Set aside.  Cream stick of margarine and 1 cup of sugar. Add the egg, sift together 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1 tsp of baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt.  Add dry ingredients to margarine and sugar.  Add the vanilla and 1/2 cup of pecans.  Pour in the date mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  You can bake this in a 9 x 13 oblong pan.

Icing

10 heaping tablespoons brown sugar
10 tablespoons of milk
1/2 stick of margarine
1 can of coconut
1/2 cup of pecans

Mix together the brown sugar, milk and margarine.  Boil for 3 minutes.  Add one can of coconut and pecans.  Boil for two additional minutes.  Spread on cake while it is hot.  After cake has cooled, cut into squares and eat until your heart is content.

Enjoy!