Sticky Date Pudding With Toffee Sauce

• 180 g dried dates, pitted, chopped
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 50 g unsalted butter
• 150 g brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 180 g self raising flour, sifted
• TOFFEE SAUCE
• 150 g brown sugar
• 250 ml cream (you can use the same amount of carnation light evaporated milk, undiluted, makes it a lot lower in f)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 20 g unsalted butter

1. Preheat oven to 180*C/375*F.
2. Combine dates and baking soda in a heatproof bowl.
3. Pour over 250ml of boiling water.
4. Set dates aside till room temperature.
5. Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl till pale.
6. Add eggs one at a time, beating until smooth.
7. Fold in flour then stir in date mixture, including the water.
8. Pour mixture into greased and floured 8 inch deep cake pan and bake for 30-45 minutes until cooked through; set aside for a couple of minutes before turning out.
9. To make sauce, combine all ingredients over low heat, stirring until butter has melted.
10. Simmer for 5 minutes.
11. Serve hot!

dates, baking soda, butter, brown sugar, eggs, flour, toffee sauce, brown sugar, cream, vanilla essence, butter

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/sticky-date-pudding-with-toffee-sauce-199973 (may not work)