Cream shortening and sugars well. Add well beaten egg. Sift flour, salt and soda together and add alternately with milk. Add pecans, cherries and dates. Remove several pieces of pecans to place on top of each cookie as it is dropped by teaspoon onto cookie sheet.

Bake until light brown in 350 degree oven. Cookies store well and retain moisture better if slice of apple is placed in container with cookies.