Oatmeal Cake with Dates, Raisins or Cranberries

Try this for breakfast, brunch or as a dessert square at lunch.

1-1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 eggs
1 cup rolled oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup boiling water
1 cup finely chopped dates (or substitute raisins or dried cranberries)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans OR substitute Grape Nuts cereal)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream brown sugar and butter. Mix in beaten eggs.

Stir baking soda into the boiling water till dissolved.

Pour rolled oats on top of the sugar/butter/egg mixture, then pour boiling water mixture on top.
Stir, then mix in chopped dates and nuts.

In a separate bowl, sift baking powder, cinnamon, flour and salt. Stir.

Gradually add flour mixture to oat mixture, stirring after each addition.

Bake in greased shallow pan for 35-40 minutes.