Lghtly grease a 20x30cm baking tin and line with baking paper, hanging over the two long sides.
Place the dates in a saucepan with 200 ml of water.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10 mins.
:- Make sure the water doesn`t evaporate completely.
Add the bicarbonate of soda and leave to cool.
Place 185 g of the butter, the flour, vanilla, baking powder, eggs and 75 ml of the milk in a food processor and mix in short bursts for 1 min, or until well blended.