Date and Pecan Cake

Two week ends ago the weather was so beautiful perhaps the best summer week end we have had for the last few years, not one drop of rain ! A group of us were guests of my great foodie friend Viki and her husband at their Whale Beach house. Bindy is a fabulous baker and true to form bought a date and walnut cake with her. Absolutely delicious, the girls said the recipe was from an old country friend.
The cake is such a traditional country afternoon tea addition. One would normally think cooler weather with cakes but it went down a treat. We lounged on the beach until 3pm, a slight offshore breeze not too hot, umbrellas and chairs and lots of chat and laughter. After packing up and walking up the track, we were a little peckish. I couldn't resist a plate of cake with a little butter, whilst we prepared a very late lunch, with a little glass of French bubbles of course. I attempted this but with pecans because I didn't have any walnuts in the pantry. Just as yummy I thought!
A great one for the school lunch box as well.

1 cup chopped dried dates
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon bicarb of soda
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 egg
pinch salt


Preheat oven to 175C
Grease a loaf tin or line with baking paper
Sift into a bowl self raising flour, sugar, bicarb of soda, nutmeg and salt.
Melt in a saucepan the butter, water and the dates. Bring to boil and continue boiling for a further minute. Stand aside and let cool slightly.
Pour into the dry ingredients and mix well. lastly add the egg and mix in. Pour into the loaf tin and bake for approx 30 minutes.

Someone just had to have a bite!