sticky date pudding

as requested by the boy who last consumed it whilst doing me a scope-ful favour: Makes - an industry-standard sized amount? 1 1/2 C butter 3 3/4 chopped pitted dates 3 tsp baking soda 3/4 C caster sugar 6 eggs 3 3/4 C flour 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp vanilla 5 1/4 tsp baking powder Place dates in saucepan, cover with cold water. Boil. Reduce and simmer 3 min, add baking soda, set aside. In mixer: cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Gently fold in flour, salt, vanilla. Slowly stir in baking powder and about 1/4 C liquid from cooking dates until mixture resembles thick pancakes (note: NZ pancakes are like Place Milton i.e. thick, crepes, so take that as you will). Drain remainder of cooking liquid off dates, stir dates into batter. Bake for 40 min or until cooked in center (except that it was written 'senter' so perhaps that's a key difference?) Happy puddings!