| Grease
and
line
a
900g
(2lb)
loaf
tin
-
I
used
a
tin
about
22cm
x
11cm
x
5cm
which
was
a
good
fit.
Preheat
over
to
180°C
/
350°F
/
Gas
mark
4. Place
bicarb
soda
and
dates
in
a
small
bowl
and
cover
with
water.
(The
original
recipe
said
to
set
it
aside
for
10
minutes
-
I
just
used
cold
water
instead
of
boiling
water
to
dissolve
the
bicarb
and
added
the
date/bicarb
mixture
as
soon
as
I'd
prepared
the
rest
of
the
ingredients. Beat
butter
and
sugar
in
a
large
bowl
until
light
and
fluffy
(or
just
zap
it
briefly
in
the
food
processor).
Stir
in
the
remaining
ingredients,
including
the
date/bicarb
mixture,
and
combine
well. Pour
mixture
into
the
prepared
tin
and
place
in
the
preheated
oven
for
about
1
hour
(I
found
mine
cooked
thoroughly
after
about
45
minutes,
testing
it
with
a
skewer). | 
