Queen Elizabeth Date Bread

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Mix dates with bicarbonate of soda in a bowl – add the boiling water and mix – let it cool.
3. Cream the sugar and butter – add egg and mix well.
4. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt over the egg mixture.
5. Add nuts and vanilla – mix well.
6. Add the dates mixture and mix well.
7. Pour into bread pan.
8. Bake for 1 hour – test whether it is ready before removing from oven.

For Syrup:

1. Place brown sugar, fresh cream, and butter together in a pot, cook over low heat, and let boil for 15 minutes – watch over it at all times.
2. Pour syrup over the bread whilst it is still in the bread pan – let the bread absorb the syrup.
3. Serve with butter – or eat as is (it really tastes like a cake).