Orange Slice Cake

I cannot tell you how many orange slice cakes my mother made each Christmas. Not only did people order them to buy (especially Jane Cole in Woodlea), but she also gave them away as gifts. I am not a fan of fruitcake AT ALL...but I truly love this because the only "fruit" in it is orange slice candy. This recipe will forever remind me of Mother because she LOVED orange slices...ALWAYS had some around the house.

Orange Slice Cake:

1 cup margarine

2 cups sugar

5 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 - 8 oz. package dates, chopped

2 cups pecans

1 - 4 oz. package coconut

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 bag orange slice candy, chopped

Mix butter, sugar, and eggs. Dissolve soda in buttermilk and add to egg mixture. Then add flour, salt, and vanilla. Fold in dates, pecans, coconut, and orange slice candy. Spoon into a greased and floured loaf pan. Bake slowly at 250. (That's all it says...bake real slow - 250....I'm thinking this could be enough for  two loaves...but I'm not positive...and I also think it bakes for 50 minutes or an hour...until tootpick comes out clean).

Icing (Drizzle):

1 cup light brown sugar dissolved in 1 cup orange juice.