Date roll

   
    1 cup dates, pitted and chopped (about 150g)
    1 cup (250ml) boiling water
    1 teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
    3/4 cup (155g) brown sugar
    60g butter
    1 teaspoon lemon or orange zest (orange is a nice alternative nice)
    1 egg
    2 cups (185g) self-raising flour (2 Cups plain flour and 4 teaspoons of baking powder)
    1 teaspoon mixed spice (we didn't use commercial but used ground nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon,          cardamon, cloves)

    1/2 cup walnut pieces <<<<< no thanks for us however we add additional dates


    Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Grease and flour 2 cylindrical tins.
    Combine dates, baking soda, zest, butter and boiling water in a large bowl. Let stand for 15 minutes.
    Combine flour, sugar, nuts and egg in a large bowl. Add date mixture and stir well.
    Pour mixture into prepared tin(s). Close both ends and stand on a tray bake for 40-45 minutes.
    Cool in tin before serving sliced and spread with butter or margarine.

No cylindrical tin?

It's also fine to make this loaf in a loaf tin.