Mini sticky date puddings & smelly undergrads

This is what my sisters and I baked on the weekend. It was a nice day just hanging out with them shopping, baking and crafting. My brothers contributed by playing loud music and making me sew up loose buttons on their jackets. Not that I minded of course! I love them all dearly :o)

Mini Sticky Date Puddings with Hot Butterscotch Sauce

1 1/4 cups chopped stoned dates
1 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
3 tablespoons softened butter (60g)
3/4 cup castor sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup self-raising flour

Sauce
1/2 cup cream
100g butter
1/2 cup brown sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degree C. Lightly grease a 6-cup jumbo muffin tin (or regular 12-cup tin).

2. Place the dates and water in a saucepan and bring to boil, simmering for ~5min or until the dates are softened. Remove from heat and stir in bicarbonate of soda.

3. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs a little at a time, beating after each addition to make a smooth batter. Fold in the sifted flour and then stir in the date-and-water mixture until well combined.

4. Spoon into the prepared muffin cups and bake for ~20min (~15min for 12-cup tin) or until firm and springy to touch.

5. To make the butterscotch sauce, combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and stir over a low heat until the butter is melted. Simmer for ~10min or until thickened. Turn the puddings out and serve warm on individual plates with hot butterscotch sauce poured over the top.

Results: mmm we all quite enjoyed it but be warned that it is sickeningly sweet! Enjoy!

I'm supposed to be writing my paper right now but I'm stuck! I'm about halfway and the draft is due to my Supervisor by the end of this month! Keep me accountable? On top of writing and lab work I've got teaching this semester - a 5 hour prac class every second week...