Thanksgiving 2007: The desserts

The ingredients

1½ cups brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1½ cups warm water

1 cup sugar

1 cup all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup milk

½ cup chopped dates

½ cup chopped pecans

2 tablespoons melted shortening

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

whipped cream

The steps

In a 9-inch by 13-inch pan, dissolve the brown sugar and salt in warm water.

Mix together sugar, all purpose flour, baking powder, milk, chopped dates, chopped pecans, melted shortening, pinch of salt and vanilla extract. Pour evenly into pan without stirring.

Bake at 375 F about 40 minutes and top with whipped cream before serving.

Recipe shared by Bonnie Fischer, president of the Columbia Apartment Association