A cup of tea and a slice of cake

I have surprised myself, after all that angst yesterday, by baking a cake before 9am this morning! It's a Boiled Date Loaf and is adapted from a recipe in the Australian Women's Weekly book of Cakes. I have adapted it so that it is gluten and dairy free. It can be served warm with custard or ice cream, or cold with spread or just on it's own. I also add nuts when I remember, and other fruit can be substituted instead of or even in addition to the dates. Obviously margerine and soymilk can be butter and cows milk respectivly. Here's the recipie:

185g margerine
250ml soy milk (I use Alpro fresh)
150g brown sugar
145g chopped dried dates (I also chucked in a handful of raisins)
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
300g gluten free flour (I use Doves Farm)
2 eggs beaten lightly

Preheat oven to moderate. Prepare a 1.5lb loaf tin by lining with baking parchment.

Combine margerine, soymilk, sugar, dates and fruit in a large saucepan stirring occassionaly while the mixture comes to a boil. When it has boiled and all the fat melted, remove from the heat and stir into it, the bicarbonate of soda. Stand for 10 minutes. When cooler, stirl in the flour and the beaten eggs, spoon the mixture into the loaf tin, and bake for 40 minutes to an hour until golden brown and a skewer poked into the middle comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy!