Date Coffee Can Cakes

2 cups boiling water
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
3 teaspoons baking soda
1 pound chopped dates or raisins
2 cups sugar
4 cups flour
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped nuts

Combine boiling water, butter, soda and dates or raisins. Let stand for 3 hours.

Heat oven to 300 degrees F.

Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Grease and flour 4 (1 pound) METAL coffee cans. Divide batter among four prepared cans.

Bake for 1 hour. These cakes can be frozen. Just leave in the can, remove and cut what you need and continue to store in can.