Grandma steaksauce-Farley's 500 Cake

This recipe has been handed down since the late 1800s and it has won a Blue Ribbon at the Michigan State Fair.

Ingredients:
* 1 ½ cups white sugar
* ½ cup shortening
* 2 eggs
* 3 mashed bananas
* ½ to 1 cup chopped nuts
* 1 8 oz. package dates, chopped
* ½ cup sour milk*
* 1 rounded tsp. baking soda
* 2 cups flour

Instructions:
Cream 1 ½ cups white sugar into ½ cup shortening. Beat in 2 eggs, 3 mashed bananas, then nuts, and the dates. Add 1 rounded teaspoon baking soda to the sour milk. Add to creamed mixture, alternating with the 2 cups of flour. Bake in two 9 inch layer cake pans at 325 to 350 F. (Until sides pull from pan, and golden brown).

Recommended frosting: Penuche from Better Homes Cookbook. Melt ½ cup butter or margarine; add ½ cup brown sugar. Bring to boil; cook and stir 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Cool 15 minutes. Add ¼ cup hot milk and beat smooth. Beat in enough of 3 ¼ cups confectioners sugar for spreading consistency. Frosts two 8 or 9 inch layers.

* To sour milk, heat the milk, then add 1 teaspoon vinegar. Let set until it curdles.