Christmas Parson'S Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1 cup molasses
1 cup water, cold
1 cup raisins
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preparation

Mix above together with nuts and dates as desired.
(I usually use about a cup of chopped pecans and a cup of chopped dates - use more or less according to your own tastes) Pour pudding mix into a can or mold and steam for 3 hours.
When done, it is cake-like in texture. For the sauce: 2/3 cup butter mixed with 1 1/2 cup sugar and 2 Tbsp boiling water.
Beat in 3 (very fresh) egg yolks.
Add beaten whites last. Flavor with vanilla (about 1/2 tsp - again, to your own taste) Serve the sauce with the Pudding.
Some people also like a \"hard sauce\" (brandy-flavored) on their pudding.