English tradition

English tradition
According to Mary Lou Meek, 207 Glenwood Ave., East Palestine, it is an old English tradition to bake Date Pudding with Hot Topping for the holidays. She is sharing the following recipes, handed down from her grandmother, which continue to be made as a family tradition.
DATE PUDDING
1 cup dates, cut up
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup boiling water
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
5 tablespoons shortening
11/2 teaspoon vanilla
11/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts
Soak cut up dates and soda in boiling water and set aside. Mix remaining ingredients together. Add dates. Place in 8x10-inch baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
HOT TOPPING
11/2 quart boiling water
1 pound brown sugar
6 heaping tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Scant dash salt
1 stick margarine
Boil ingredients together in heavy saucepan until they thicken. Pour warm sauce over date pudding and top with whipped cream if desired.
Sweet treat
From Alice Noga, 305 Rutland Ave., Youngstown, comes the following recipe for Golden Harvest Pumpkin Pie which she received from a friend about 25 years ago. She made four of these pies which were shared with her five sisters and all their families at the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
GOLDEN HARVEST PUMPKIN PIE
4 cups flour
13/4 cups Crisco
1/2 cup cold water
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 egg, slightly beaten
Filling
1 large can pumpkin
2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
5 eggs, slightly beaten
1 can (12/3 cups) evaporated milk
11/2 cups light cream
Mix dough ingredients together. Divide into two parts. Wrap 1 part in Saran wrap and place in freezer for future use. Divide remaining dough in half and roll out and fit into two large pie pans.
For filling, beat pumpkin, sugars, flour, salt, and spices together until well blended. Add slightly beaten eggs, milk and cream and beat until smooth. Pour into prepared crusts. Bale 15 minutes at 425 degree. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 45 minutes. Pies are done when a knife inserted in middle comes out clean.