Date-Nut Fruitcake Recipe

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in the coconut, raisins, dates, pecans and orange peel. Spoon into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 300° for 85-95 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Place a piece of waxed paper under rack. In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and orange juice to a boil; boil for 1 minute. Stir in orange peel. Poke holes in cake with a long wooden skewer; gradually spoon glaze over fruitcake. Cool completely. Yield: 16 servings.