Sticky Date Pudding

Serves 6

Ingredients
Pudding
250 g dried dates, pitted
1 C water
1 t bicarb soda
100 g butter
1 C brown sugar
1 t vanilla
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 C S.R. flour
3/4 C macadamias (or other nuts such as pecans or walnuts)

Caramel Sauce
300 mL thickened cream
1 C brown sugar
1 t vanilla
60 g butter

Method
1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease and line an square baking dish.
2. Soak dates in 1 C boiling water until most of the water is absorbed. This may need to be done over a saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in bicarb soda.
3. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Whisk in eggs. Add dates and fold in flour and nuts.
4. Pour over baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes.
5. Prepare caramel sauce by heating all ingredients in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil before reducing heat to simmer and thicken (about 5 minutes).
6. Drizzle over pudding before serving.