Instructions: Place chopped dates, milk, sugar and butter into a saucepan. Heat gently until almost boiling, then add well crushed bicarbonate of soda, stir gently then remove from heat and cool. Stir in the flour and mix well. Put the mixture into a small, well buttered pudding basin and cover with two sheets greased foil or Gladbake. Tie with string, or cover with a clip lid.

Lower basin into a large saucepan of boiling water which should come half way up the sides of the basin. Cover saucepan with a lid and simmer pudding gently for 1 1/2 hours. Replace with boiling water as necessary but try not to let the water go off the simmer. Turn out, and serve hot with boiled custard.

Serves 6.

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