Sticky Toffee Pudding from Ireland

So, after a bit of a rough weekend, and maybe one too many glasses of 'vino' last night, today is definitely feeling like a Monday. Generally I love Mondays. Chloe goes to preschool, Steve goes off to work, and I am left alone for 3 glorious hours! Today, however, I'm still feeling the anxiety of the weekend. I didn't get anything done that I needed to get done, so It's all going to be done today.

I'll be going to Bakersfield this afternoon to get some shopping done, and on the way back Chloe and I love to stop at this little Orange Stand just off the highway. Not only do they have oranges, but they also sell dates. One of the lesser known crops in Southern California is Dates. I love dates! They are sweet, chewy and chocked-full of goodness. There are even 2 references to Dates in the Old Testament of the Bible:

2 Samuel 6:19 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹⁹ Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

1 Chronicles 16:3 (New International Version, ©2011)

³ Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman.

With all that said...here is a great recipe for Dates. It's a little unusual, but oh so delicious!

Sticky Toffee Pudding

2pt milk

24oz dates

24 oz butter

24oz  sugar

8 oz eggs

24 oz flour

3tbs B soda
Commercially made caramel sauce to top the warm cake...YUMMY!

Heat milk and dates together over a medium flame. Meanwhile cream together the sugar and butter. Place the milk and dates in the food processor and grind to a thick pulp adding the Baking  soda. Mix everything together quickly in a mixing bowl pour into a well oiled casserole dish, and bake325F for 40 minutes. Serve warm topped with caramel sauce.