Cream the butter, egg and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture a little at a time, to the creamed mixture, beating after each addition. In a medium bowl, combine the coconut, dates, orange peel, and half cup of the pecans. Stir into the cookie mixture. Divide the dough in half and form into two logs, approximately
1. 1 cm in diameter. Place the remaining half cup of pecans on a piece of waxed paper. Roll the logs in the nuts. Wrap each log in waxed paper and chill for 1 hour. To bake, slice the logs into 0 cm rounds and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 180ºC or 10 to dozen minutes, until lightly browned. Makes 5 dozen.