Sticky Toffee Date Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

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

Preparation

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