Billy Goat Date Cakes

1 pound pitted dates
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 pound butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg or mace

Cut dates into pieces with scissors and mix with nuts. Cream butter with sugar and beat in eggs until light and fluffy. Beat in sour cream. Mix 1/2 cup of the flour into dates and nuts to coat them. Mix together remaining dry ingredients; stir into egg mixture, and add dates and nuts. Drop batter by spoonsful on well-greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F until nicely browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

Makes about 6 dozen cookies.