Since my husband was laid off last Friday, I have been making all of my decisions based on saving cash and gas.

I was planning on making my favorite cake for my friend’s birthday and found I did not have any chocolate chips left. It requires chopped dates and I had a half a package that I really needed to use up.

My husband offered to drive to the store and pick up chocolate chips, but I didn’t want to use the cash or the gas. I decided to frost the cake instead of following the recipe. I have plenty of powdered sugar left over from my Christmas baking.

Who knows, I may like the frosted version better. Before running to the store it’s wise to ask…is there something I can use in substitute?

Chocolate Chip Torte

1 Cup Finely Chopped Dates

1 Cup Boiling Water

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Cup Butter

1 Cup Sugar

2 Eggs

1 3/4 Cups Flour

2 Tablespoons Cocoa

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts

1 – 6 Ounce Package Chocolate Chips

Grease a 9″ X 13″ pan. Combine dates, boiling water and soda. Let cool. Cream butter and sugar; add eggs. Sift together flour, cocoa, and salt. When date mixture is cool, add the butter mixture. Stir in flour mixture; add vanilla. Spread batter into pan. Sprinkle nuts and chocolate chips on top. Bake at 350º for 30-35 minutes.