Banana Bread

1 cup pitted dates, chopped
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup water
2 cups self-raising flour
1 cup ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 tsp bicarb soda

Preheat oven to 180C. Grease 14x 21cm loaf tin. Combine dates, sugar and water in large saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 2 mins or until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Remove from heat. Add flour, banana, walnuts and bicarb soda and stir until combined. Spoon into prepared tin. Bake in oven for 40mins or until skewer comes out clean. Remove and set aside for 5mins to cool before turning onto wire rack. Serve warm, at room temp or toasted with butter.