The Chef
David Carmichael of Oceana

Servings
Serves 12

Ingredients
Pudding:
1 cup dates
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons softened butter, plus additional for molds
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, beaten

Toffee Sauce: 
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup cream
1and 1/3 cups dark-brown sugar
2 tablespoons Myers’s rum, or to taste

Cooking Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the dates, and boil for 5 minutes. Strain, and place the dates in a bowl of cold water. Working in the water, remove the skins and pits from the dates. Place the dates in a medium saucepan with 1 cup water, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 2 minutes (watch carefully, as it will foam). Set aside to cool.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-by-12-inch baking dish or 12 6-ounce ramekins very well. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Cream the butter briefly in a mixing bowl. Add the date mixture, dry ingredients, and egg, and stir gently to combine. (Do not overmix.) Spoon the mixture into the molds or baking dish until they are a bit less than half full. Set on a cookie sheet, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Toffee Sauce:
While the pudding bakes, combine the butter, cream, and brown sugar with 3 tablespoons water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes, add rum, and set aside, keeping the sauce warm.

Remove the pudding from the oven when a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. If using a large baking dish, cut the pudding into 12 squares. Pour the sauce over the pudding, allowing it to seep down around the sides and cover the top. (Use a fork to pull the pudding away from the pan, to get the sauce down the sides.) Bake for 2 to 3 more minutes. Remov