Bring the water to boil with dates and bicarbonate of soda and stir. Then set to one side to cool.
Line a loaf tin with butter and plain flour. Alternatively, you can use x6 small pudding tins.
Combine the water and flax seed together in a small bowl and set aside.
In a separate bowl, cream the butter and caster sugar together. Stir in the flax mix and vanilla with the butter and sugar.
Combine the butter mix with the cooked dates and flour. Do this by adding a little of each at a time, and alternating between the two until they are fully combined.
Pour the mix into the pre-prepared tins. Bake at 180 oC for 30-35mins, or until a skewer comes out of the pudding clean.
To make the sauce: combine the cream, sugar and treacle over a low heat.
