You Need
250g dates, broken into pieces
250ml water
5ml bicarbonate of soda
1.5 cups cake flour, sifted
2.5ml baking powder
100g soft margarine
200ml sugar
2 eggs, whisked
FOR THE SYRUP:
250ml water
250ml sugar
10ml margarine
5ml vanilla essence
125ml brandy or orange juice

You Do
Place the date and water into a pot and bring to the boil. Cook gently until the dates soften. Add the bicarbonate of soda. The mixture will froth. Allow to cool.
Cream the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs and then fold in the dry ingredients. Finally add the dates.
Pour into a lightly greased 2l rectangular overproof dish and bake at 160°C until browned and cooked through.
TO MAKE THE SYRUP: Heat the sugar, water and margarine together until a thin syrup forms. Remove from the heat and add the brandy or orange juice and vanilla essence.
Pour the hot syrup over the baked pudding and allow it to soak.
Serve with reduced-fat cream as a very special treat or with low-fat natural yoghurt.
Do not allow the brandy to boil as this will cook of the alcohol and the pudding will lose some of its flavour.

Per Portion
Energy: 1617kJ
Protein: 3.5g
Total fat: 10.2g
Saturated fat: 2g
Monounsaturated fat: 2.6g
Polyunsaturated fat: 4.9g
Cholesterol: 42mg
Carbohydrate: 61.5g
Fibre: 2.7g