Once you try this you will want to keep some in the freezer to feed your craving on demand.

Pudding:

-1 1/2 cup pitted dates

-1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

- 1 tsp baking soda

- 1 stick (1/2 cup) softened Butter (must be butter for best flavor)

- 2 cups flour

- 1 tsp baking powder

-1/4 tsp salt

- 1 egg beaten

- 1 tblsp corn syrup

-1 tblsp mollasses

SAUCE:

-1 1/2 cup butter (1 and 1 1/2 sticks butter)

-1 1/2 cups cream

-2 2/3 dark brown sugar

- 3 tblsp rum extract or rum

 Put dates in a sauce pan and cover with 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil, add vanilla extract and baking soda.Reduce the heat and simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes.Watch carefully not to boil over because it will get frothy fast ! Then set this aside to cool.

Heat oven to 350*, Butter a 8 x 12 baking dish or 12 6oz baking dishes

Cream the butter and add the cooled date mixture,add the dry ingredients and the egg.Mix but do not over mix.

Place filled baking dish/dishes on baking sheets and bake for about 25 minutes,until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in middle.

 While your pudding is baking combine your ingredients for your sauce,butter,cream and brown sugar with 3 tblsps of water in saucepan and bring to a boil,reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes to thicken a little.Then add your rum extract and mix together and set aside,but keep sauce warm.Cut the pudding into serving sizes about 12 and pour 1/2 the sauce over the cut pudding making sure it gets into evry little nook and cranny to saturate your pudding .

Now bake the pudding for 3-5 minutes more.This can be served warm or cold...but warm is the best ! When ready to serve put individual servigs on plates,por a little more sauce over the pudding and top with vanilla icecream or whip cream and serve.