QUEEN ELIZABETH'S PUDDING

1 c. dates, chopped
1 c. hot water
3/4 tsp. soda
1/4 c. margarine
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1 1/2 c. cake flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

--TOPPING:--

1 stick, plus 1 tbsp. margarine
6 tbsp. cream
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. pecans, chopped

Pour hot water over the dates then cook over low fire for 15 to 20 minutes. Add soda and stir mixture. In large bowl, cream sugar and margarine together. Add egg, vanilla and date mixture. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together and add same to the date mixture. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Put mixture in a 8 x 12 glass pan and cook 30 to 40 minutes. While cake is baking, prepare topping. For topping, mix ingredients together and cook 3 minutes after mixture boils. When cake is done, pour over cake and put under broiler 1 1/2 minutes. Watch closely!