Sticky Date Pudding with Toffee Sauce

A Donna Hay's Recipe - very nice, very simple.  I used dates that were mildly sweet and the topping with toffee sauce was perfect with the pudding.

Ingredients: ( Serves 6 )

Chopped Pitted Dates - 210 gms
Boiling Water - 250 ml - 1 cup
Soda bi carb (baking soda) - 1 teaspoon
Butter (chopped) - 100 gms
Brown sugar - 135 gms
Eggs - 2 nos
Self Raising Flour - 150 gms

Toffee Sauce ( I made just a third of this so make accordingly)
Butter - chopped - 150 gms
Single pouring cream - 250 ml
Brown sugar - 265 gms

Double cream - if you wish to put a dollop on the pudding

Place pitted dates, water and soda bicarb in a bowl - allow to stand for 5 minutes
I processed it to make an even mixture
Add butter and sugar and process till well combined

Now add eggs and flour and mix till just combined

Preheat the oven to 180C
Grease and line a 26cm x 16 cm square tin with non stick baking paper

Pour in the tin
Bake for 30-35 minutes till cooked - test with a skewer

Cool in tin for 10 minutes.
Cut in squares.

While it is cooling -  make the toffee sauce
Place butter, cream, sugar in saucepan over medium heat
Still till butter has melted
Bring to boil, cook for 5 minutes or till it thickens slightly.
Spoon over the squares
Put a dollop of cream (optional ) but it is really tasty when you do

* ( the above pic is when the toffee sauce has cooled down.  A few seconds in the microwave and the toffee sauce melts a bit... so have it the way you want it .. )