This is so easy and so delicious. If you like
                     you can cut the pears up small and cook the
                     mixture in muffin pans for individual desserts
                     or a lunchbox treat.

                          1 1/4 cups water
                          20 pitted dates
                          1 tsp baking soda
                          60g butter
                          1 cup brown sugar
                          2 eggs
                          11/2 cups self raising flour
                          1 tsp vanilla essence
                          1 tsp ground ginger
                          2 pears, cored and cut into thin wedges

                     Place dates, water and baking soda in a pot
                     large enough to hold the entire mixture.

                     Boil for 5 minutes, remove from heat and
                     mash to break up dates.

                     Stir in chopped up butter until melted.

                     Mix in brown sugar and eggs.

                     Fold in flour, vanilla essence and ginger, then
                     fold in pears.

                     Pour mixture into a loose bottomed cake tin(
                     23-25cm). lined with baking paper.

                     Bake at 180°C for 30-35 minutes until golden
                     and skewer clean.

                     Serve with Almost wicked toffee sauce.