Kokova Magazine

For a lot of people, dates and figs are often left in the box until all the other goodies have gone but with this recipe you can make a scrummy pudding and set those dates free.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 75g caster sugar
• 100g soft margarine
• 100g self raising flour
• 50g soft brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 25g breadcrumbs
• 100g dates, stoned and chopped
• 2 lemons
• 75ml water

Procedure

• Grate off the lemon rinds before peeling and quartering the lemons.
• Place the flesh in a processor and blend until puréed.
• Make up to 300ml by adding water.
• Pour into a saucepan and add the caster sugar.
• Dissolve the sugar into the liquid over a low heat before boiling rapidly for 3 minutes.
• Mix the lemon rind, margarine, flour, brown sugar, eggs, breadcrumbs and dates together until smooth.
• Turn into a greased 1.2 litre (2 pt) pudding basin and then pour the sauce over the mixture.
• Cover with pleated foil. tie securely and steam for an hour and a half - until the top is dry and spongy (top up the steaming pan with boiling water as necessary).
• When cooked - turn out with extreme care as the sauce will pour out around the pudding.
• Serve with cream and strawberries - or ice cream.