Date Loaf

I believe this was the Queen Mother's favourite cake!

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Serves: 16
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1  cup  boiling water, over
• 1  cup  chopped dates, and
• 1  teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, in a large mixing bowl
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  egg, beaten
• 1 1⁄2 cups flour, sifted
• 1⁄2 cup pecans or 1⁄2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 0.25 (60 ml)  butter
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder

• TOPPING

• 75  ml brown sugar
• 30  ml butter
• 30  ml  cream
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Let first 3 ingreds stand while rest is mixed.
2. Add all ingreds to the date mixture.
3. Mix thoroughly.
4. Bake in loaf pan at 180ºC for 40-45 minutes.
5. TOPPING:.
6. Mix ingreds together & boil for 3 minutes.
7. Spread on cooled cake & sprinkle with nuts.