Sticky Date Pudding- Courtesy my friend Deepa

The Goods

1/2 c  Butter, room temperature, cut into eight pieces and extra to butter pan
1 1/4 c  Chopped pitted dates
1 tsp  Baking soda
1/4 c  Granulated sugar
2  Eggs
1 1/4 c  All purpose flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 3/4 ts Baking powder
Caramel Sauce
1/2 c  Butter
1/4 c  Whipping cream
1/2 c  Firm packed brown sugar PLUS
1 tbsp Firm packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla

The Deal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch round baking pan withsides at least 2 inches high, such as a springform pan.
Place the dates in a saucepan and cover with water (about 1-1/2 cups). Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Add the
baking soda (the mixture will foam) and set aside.

In a bowl, cream the cut up butter, sugar and eggs, adding the eggs one at a time. Gently mix in the flour, salt and vanilla. Stowly stir
in the baking powder and 1/4 cup of the liquid from cooking the dates, until the cake mixture resembles thick pancake batter. Drain
off remainder of date cooking liquid and discard. Stir in the dates.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until cooked in the center.

Caramel sauce: Combine the butter, whipping cream, brown sugar and vanilla. Bring to a boil; reduce to simmer, and cook for 3
minutes.

Drizzle some of the sauce over the cake as it is cooling. Serve the rest of the sauce separately.

When Deepa brought this over for dessert one night, we served it with baked apples and poached pears along with ice cream and the carmel sauce.  It was delicious.