Sticky Date Pudding
Submitted by Jon Nealis

(Serves 6-8, use a 25cm/10" pie or quiche plate)

180g pitted dates, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 cup boiling water
75g soft butter
150g soft brown sugar
2 eggs
180g self raising flour

For the sauce:
200g soft brown sugar
1 cup cream
50g butter
50g chopped walnuts (optional)

1.Preheat oven to 180'C/350'F. Place dates and bicarb
of soda in a bowl and pour over boiling water. Leave
to stand for 10 minutes.

2.Lightly butter pie plate. Beat together butter and
sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after
each. Fold in S.R. flour. Stir in date mixture. Pour
'sloppy' mixture into dish. Place on baking tray. Cook
in oven for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted skewer
comes out clean.

3.Sauce: Combine sugar,cream, butter in a saucepan and
bring to boil. Simmer for 4 minutes. Sprinkle walnuts (if using)
over the top of the pudding. Pour half of the sauce
over the pudding and serve remainder in a jug.
Alternatively, pour sauce and walnuts over individual
slices. Serve with cream or ice cream if desired.

Enjoy!