Sticky Date Pudding

Ingredients
180g Dried Dates, chopped rough
1 Tspn Bi-carb Soda
60g Butter
180g Castor Sugar
2 Large Eggs
180g Self Raising Flour
1 Tspn Vanilla Essence
300ml Boiling Water

Sauce
150g Brown Sugar
150ml Cream
50g Butter

Method
Pre-heat the oven to 190 dgrees Celcius. Pit and chop the dates. Then pour boiling water over the dates with Bi-card Soda and stand to cool.

Next, in a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well. Add the vanilla essence and then add the date mixture and flour together while mixing well.

Meanwhile, line a cake tin with baking paper. Pour the mixture into the tin and place in the oven for approximately 45 minutes.

For the sauce, bring all of the ingredients to a gentle boil and then simmer until the brown sugar has dissolved. Pour over the cake and serve with ice cream.

Good Food & Wine Show 2011

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
1 - 3 July 2011
http://www.goodfoodshow.com.au/

It’s that time of year again! Sydney’s Good Food & Wine Show is on! Come and enjoy the celebration of our Modern Australian cuisine and fine wines this weekend. The show features hundreds of exhibitors including wineries, bakeries, breweries, confectionery stores, fine food distributors, kitchenware and appliances, butchers and organic food producers from across the country.

Want to get stuck into all of the action? Why not master the art of espresso making with the Sunbeam Academy; undertake a hands on butchery class with Victor Churchill or; learn how to pair food with coffee with celebrity chef Justine Schofield?

Or would you rather kick back and watch the chefs do the work? In that case, head to the Lifestyle food chef’s table and check out Justin North, Miguel Maestre and Adrian Richardson do their magic in the kitchen.

In addition to the show, you can check out your favourite celebrity chefs Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, Manu Feidel, Matt Moran and Toby Puttock in the Celebrity Theatre. Tickets are free but you will need to go to the Celebrity Theatre Box Office and request a ticket early as seating is limited.

Here are some of our highlights and recommendations at the show:

 Gary Mehigan & George Calombaris performing in the Celebrity Theatre.

Wine tasting (purhcase a glass for $3 and begin your wine tastings). Take note that some wineries are offering free freight and discounted wines if you make a purchase at the show.

Check out the local breweries. Our favourite was the Balmain Brewing Company. Ask to try their Pale Ale - it's fantastic! 

 Dig into the local produce. For those who like chilli, try the bum burners.

Go out on a limb and try something new! Chicken in a Can!

Register for a Costco membership. The Sydney store is set to open in less than a month. Beat the queues and register early! 

Not in Sydney? The festival will also be held in Perth (15^th – 17^th July), Adelaide (7^th – 9^th October) and Brisbane (4^th – 6^th November).