Date Cake

I had made the cake earlier.  But in the microwave.  Even though it tasted good, it didn't have that glorious brown colour and was not appreciated as much as this one. You cannot beat the slow heat and the browning effect of the oven.  Even the old stove top one would do.

This one is from Tickling Palates and the best part is if you have the dates, most likely you would have the rest of the ingredients right there in the kitchen.  No eggs, no butter, no milk either.  And you have a great tasting cake.  A little like the plum cake.  Make it right away...

PS - it just requires a little preparation, so at least start about 3-4 hours before you actually want to eat it !

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour (Maida) - 2 cups
Sugar - 1 cup
Dates - 1 cup - de-seeded, chopped fine
Vegetable oil - 1/2 ( half) cup
Baking soda - 2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Water - 2 cups
Cinnamon powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Almonds ( or any nuts of your choice) 1/4 cup - optional

( the recipe does not even require a weighing scale :-)   )

In a deep pan take the sugar, add salt, cinnamon powder, chopped dates, Oil, and Water.
Mix. 
Heat and bring to a boil
Simmer for about 15 - 20 minutes

Take off heat.  Allow to cool completely  - this will take some time

Once the mixture is cooled
Preheat the oven to 180 C
Prepare the tin.  Line with greased - grease proof or parchment paper.

Sieve the flour and baking soda twice preferably
Add this little by little to the cooled date mixture
Whisk manually or with an electric mixer
Make sure it is free of lumps
Transfer to the prepared tin and put in the oven

Bake for about 30 mins.  Keep a close eye on the cake.
Check to see if the knife comes out clean when you insert in the centre

Remove.  Cool thoroughly before you attempt to remove it from the tin
( I am always impatient at this stage )

Slice and serve.  Warm.  Cold or whatever.
Have it plain or with custard, ice-cream, plain thick cream.  All combinations will taste as good