Chocolate Chip and Date Cookies-Grandma

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup sugar

3 beaten eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup hot water

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/2 pound chopped dates

1 package chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter. Add sugar and beaten eggs. Dissolve baking soda in hot water and mix alternately flour and salt together. Add nuts, chocolate chips, dates and vanilla. Drop by teaspoons on greased cookie sheet. Bake 10  to 12 minutes. Be sure dates are chopped well. Makes about 100 cookies.