1/2 cup finely chopped dates
1/2 cup chopped crystallised ginger + a few more pieces sliced for the top
1/3 cup boiling water
1 tspn baking soda
50 gm butter
1 T molasses or golden syrup
1/2 cup dark cane sugar
1 egg
1 T dried powdered ginger
1 t mixed spice
1 cup plain flour
1 t baking powder
2/3 cup milk
Preheat oven , fan forced with low humidity 170C
Line a small loaf tin with baking paper.
In a medium sized bowl, add chopped dates and ginger and add the boiling water and baking soda and chopped butter
Mash with a fork and stir to allow butter to melt in the hot mixture
Add molasses or golden syrup, sugar and then lightly beaten egg
Add remaning dry ingredients alternately with the milk and mix well
Pour into lined tin and top with remaining ginger slices
Place in oven and cook for 35-40 minutes or until a skewer poked in the middle comes out clean
Remove from tin and leave to cool before slicing