Orange Cake

• 1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened
• 1/4 c. shortening
• 1 1/2 c. sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 c. buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tsp. orange extract
• 1 c. chopped dates
• 1/2 c. chopped pecans
• 1 Tbsp. grated orange rind
• Orange Frosting
• grated orange rind (optional)
• orange segments (optional)
• orange rind strips (optional)

1. Cream butter and shortening.
2. Gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Combine flour, soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
5. Beat at high speed of an electric mixer for 3 minutes.
6. Stir in orange extract, dates, pecans and 1 tablespoon orange rind.
7. Pour cake batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
8. Bake at 350u0b0 for 30 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
9. Cool cake layers in pans 10 minutes.
10. Remove layers from pans; let cool completely.

butter, shortening, sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, orange extract, dates, pecans, orange rind, orange frosting, orange rind, orange segments, orange rind strips

Taken from www.cookbooks.com/Recipe-Details.aspx?id=519121 (may not work)