Sticky Date Pudding

Recipe from the show "A la Distasio". Cara I think you wanted this recipe.


For the cake:
2 cups of pitted dates
2 cups hot water
2 tsps baking soda
1/2 cup of butter at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar (I think we halved this)
4 eggs

For the caramel sauce:
3/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup cream 35%

Preparation:

For the cake, soak dates in hot water and baking soda while you prepare the other ingredients.

For the sauce, melt the butter and add vanilla. Add brown sugar and cream, whisk with a fork and bring it to a boil. Take it off the heat and set aside.

For the cake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, one by one mixing after the addition of each one. With a wooden spoon, mix in the four. In a seaparate bowl, puree the date mixture, then add them to the cake batter. Mix well, then add to a square 8 inch pan that is buttered and floured. Bake for 30 minutes. Take the cake out of the oven and make about 30 holes in it with a chopstick. Pour about 2/3 of the caramel sauce over the cake and bake for another 30 minutes. Serve the cake with the rest of the sauce and a spoonful of sour cream.