Sticky dates and ghosts

Sticky Date and Toffee Pudding

1 cup chopped dates

3/4 tsp soda

1 1/3 cups flour

1 3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup butter

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 1/4 cup boiling water

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup whipping cream

1/3 cup butter

2 tbsp dark rum

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease 8 inch square pan and line with parchment.

2. Stir soda into dates, pour boiling water on top and let stand.

3. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add 1/2 tsp vanilla.

4. Sift baking powder and flour, stir into butter mixture.

5. Stir dates and water mixture into batter. Pour batter into pan. Bake for 30-35 min until pick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

6. While the cake bakes, mix brown sugar, cream and butter. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 min. Stir in vanilla and rum. Pour 1/2 cup of sauce over warm cake. Serve remainder over squares of the cake. This originated in Food & Drink magazine from 2006. I have modified it slightly.

I would say this is one of my favourite desserts. I love dates, chutneys with dates, cakes with dates, cookies with dates....the list could go on. They are one of my few sweet weaknesses, along with figs. Now I realize dates are packed with sugar and thus calories, however they are an indulgence that also have fiber, vitamins and minerals as well. They remind me of the warmer climes they come from, and somehow of the very distant past when they were are rare wintry treat. This cake-like pudding is served warm with a sauce laced with rum. I like it with cream or creme fraiche, but my kids eat it as is....either way it warms the soul in what we are loosely calling winter here (ok, its +8 and very mild, we are hardly in need of warming). But it is a dish I only make this time of year. It is nice with some port, which I think I will have a glass of right now...

Tucking Josh in tonight, we said his prayers, blessing the fish and hamster too. He then asked me to keep Boots safe. I assured him Boots was quite safe in heaven.

"Well how did she get there?" he asked.

"Her ghost floated up after she died." I replied.

"So she flew up?"

"yes."

"But how? She was all full of bones!"

"Well...her bones stay here, just her ghost goes out of her body."

"oh.....good then."

He seemed satisfied with that response, such as it was. Well it made sense to me....

Another date creation...dates stuffed with goat cheese, blue cheese, wrapped in proscuitto