Tart
250 g (1/2 pound) dates
5
ml (1 teaspoon) Bicarbonate of Soda
250 ml (1 cup) boiling water
125 ml
(1/2 cup) butter or margarine
250 ml (1 cup) sugar
2 eggs
500 ml (2
cups) flour
5 ml (1 teaspoon) baking powder
2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoon) salt
250 ml (1 cup) chopped pecan nuts
Syrup (see "syrup" recipe)
Syrup
312 ml (1 1/4 cup) sugar
12.5 ml (1 desert spoon) butter
187 ml (3/4
cup) water
5 ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla essence
Pinch of salt
125 ml
(1/2 cup) Brandy
1. Cut the dates into small pieces. Add the Bicarb and
boiling water to half of the dates in a mixing bowl, stir and let it cool.
2.
Beat the butter and the sugar together well until it's creamy and then add the
beaten eggs. Mix well.
3. Sieve the dry ingredients together en fold into
the butter mixture.
4. Add the rest of the dry dates and nuts and after that,
add the dates- and bicarb mixture. Mix well together.
5. Dish the mixture
in a large ovenproof bake dish, or into two (2) tart/pie dishes with a diameter
of 22 cm (9") each.
6. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes in a medium oven at 180º C
(350º F)
Syrup Preparation-
1. Boil the first 3 ingredients together
for 5 minutes while stirring.
2. Remove from heat en add the vanilla, salt
and Brandy.
3. Stir well.
Pour the hot syrup over the tart when it
comes out the oven.
Serve hot or cold with whipped cream.