Brandy Tart from Gustav Barnard

Dough
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup dates
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 cup hot water
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chopped nuts

Sauce
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 cup lukewarm water
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup brandy

Dough
Cream butter and sugar.
Mix dates, bicarbonate of soda and water.
Add egg, flour, baking powder and nuts to creamed butter and sugar.
Add half of date, bicarbonate of soda and water mixture to above, mix then add the rest and mix.
Bake in 9x13 baker at 375F for about 1/2 hour. Cut in blocks while hot and pour the boiling hot sauce over.

Sauce
Boil water and sugar for 5 minutes.
Remove from fire and add butter, vanilla and brandy. Pour over the freshly baked cake.