Date, banana and kahlua cake

Well, it makes a change from white russians by the dozen....but this all came about, as I didn't have any rum, for a rum and raisin planned treat.  After searching for some inspiration, I came up with this delicious cake.

Ingredients:
250g dates (stone removed, ready to eat)
2 bananas
200g raisins
200g sultanas
100g pecans (reserve some whole to decorate)
100g almond flour
25g flaxmeal flour
2 tsp mixed spice
2tsp baking powder
3tbs kahlua (or any similar dark liqueurs of your choice)
2 egg whites

Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4.  Grease and line a loaf tin - or have a silicon one on standby.
1. Put the dates into a pan and cover with boiling water.  Simmer for 5 minutes.  Drain into a jug and reserve the liquid.  Put the dates, 100ml of the date liquid and the bananas into a food processor and whizz.
2.  In a separate (largish) mixing bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together - raisins, sultanas, 80g of the pecans - chopped, almond flour, flaxmeal, baking soda and mixed spice.
3.  Whisk the egg whites until the soft peak stage.
4. Mix together the date mix and the dry ingredients.  Fold this together with the egg whites.
5. Tip into your prepared loaf tin.  If you wish to, you can decorate the top with the whole pecans that you saved.  Or banana chips would be good too.  Cover with foil (this is to prevent the nuts and fruit from burning)
6. Bake for first 30mins covered and then remove cover.  Bake for a further 30mins - or until a skewer comes out clean.

This cake is rather tasty - although, it does a hint of 'Christmas pudding' about it.  I'd recommend serving with custard or a spoonful of whipped cream. Yum!
NB - I over cooked mine slightly, hence the addition of the silverfoil at the start of cooking!