West Haven Cake (Rosells)- Recipe Box #3

Today's box came from Thora Mae's Antique Store in Canon Falls, Minnesota.  No idea who owned it previously, but most of the cards have details as to who this person got each recipe from.

Here's the box:

The recipe I've chosen is called West Haven Cake (Rosells).  It has a notation that it came from p. 5 of a cookbook, but I can't make out the writing...Runesdone?  Runeslove?  Runnlove?  I'm also not sure what "Rosells" means...

Here's the original recipe card.  You can tell by the spatters and wear to the card that it was made frequently.  It also says "very good" under the name of the cookbook from which it came:

Here's the recipe:

West Haven Cake (Rosells)

Small package (1 cup) dates- cut in half & pour over them 1 cup hot water with 1 tsp. soda.  Let cool.  Cream 1 cup sugar with 1/2 cup shortening.  Add date mixture to creamed mixture, plus 1/4 tsp. salt if butter is not used.  Add 2 eggs, tsp. vanilla and 1 3/4 cups flour sifted with 1 tablespoon cocoa.  Pour in 9 x 13 pan and sprinkle 1/2 cup nut meats plus 1 cup Baker's German Sweet chocolate broken into pieces or use 1 pkg. chocolate chips.  Stir into top of batter in pan.  Bake (350 degrees) for 45 minutes.  Test with tooth pick.

Enjoy!