1 lb. Dates
1 cup of water
1 tspn bicarbonate soda (baking soda)
1/4 lb. butter
1/2 lb. sugar
1/2 lb. flour
1 tspn baking powder
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
3 cardamoms (powdered)
1 tspn vanilla
grated rind of lime
OPTIONAL
2 ozs. cashews
2 ozs. sultanas (raisins)
2 ozs. pumpkin preserve (cut small)
Method
Wash and stone the dates and mince. Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in water and soak the dates for at least one hour.
Sieve the flour and baking powder together, and set aside. Dust in 2ozs. flour, the chopped cashews, sultanas and cut pumpkin preserve and set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar. Add yolk one at a time and cream well. Whisk the whites of eggs till foamy. Alternately fold in the flour, milk and whisked whites to the cake mixture.
Lightly mix in the soaked dates and the dry ingredients mixture. Lastly, add the vanilla, grated lime rind and powdered cardomoms.
Bake in a moderately hot oven(350 F) for 30-35 minutes.
