Sticky Toffee Date Pudding

• 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup soft brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour, sifted
• TOFFEE SAUCE
• 1 cup soft brown sugar
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons butter

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
2. Mix the dates and baking soda in a bowl.
3. Pour boiling water on top and leave until needed.
4. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time, beat well after each addition.
5. Fold in the sifted flour, stir in the date mixture, and pour into a greased 18cm or 7" square or round cake tin.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.
7. For the sauce: Combine sugar, cream, vanilla essence and butter in a saucepan, bring to the boil, stirring, and simmer for five minutes.
8. Set aside until ready to serve.
9. Cut pudding into squares and place each square in the centre of a warm dinner plate.
10. Pour hot toffee sauce (reheat if neccesary) over each square and serve with ice cream.

dates, bicarbonate of soda, boiling water, butter, brown sugar, eggs, flour, toffee sauce, brown sugar, whipping cream, vanilla, butter

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/sticky-toffee-date-pudding-22494 (may not work)