Turn oven on to 325 degrees.

Place dates in bowl. Sprinkle baking soda over dates and pour boiling water over dates and soda. Let sit while mixing the cake.

In large mixing bowl cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and stir again. Add flour/baking powder alternately with the date mixture until flour is just mixed. Stir in vanilla and nuts.

Pour into two greased and floured loaf pans or three small loaf pans.
Bake 35 to 50 minutes until nothing wet appears on a toothpick when inserted into center of cake. Remove from pans and cool. Freezes well.