Finely chop 8 oz. of dates. Make sure the dates are pitted so the chopping will be easy. Bring 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of Kahlua to a slight boil then add to the dates and let sit to cool.

In a mixing bowl add one stick of room temperature butter and 1 cup packed brown sugar. Beat until creamy. Add 4 room temperature eggs one at a time to mixture. Incorporate 1-3/4 cups self-rising flour, 1 tsp. baking powder and 1 Tbs. instant coffee crystals into mixture — do not over mix.

Put chopped dates put into food processor and puree the heck out of them. While you are doing this make sure not to stick your fingers into the processor — it could be very painful, and you may have to start again once you have returned from the hospital. Add date to flour mixture and mix until smooth.

Pour into a 9-inch round or square baking dish and bake at 350° for approximately 45 minutes. The cake should be golden brown and spongy. Let sit to cool off.

After preparing the cake and enjoying a short nap, now you’re ready to prepare the toffee sauce.

In a sauce pan mix:
¾ cup butter
1 ½ cup packed brown sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
½ tsp. vanilla

Heat until nice and warm — the sauce should start to thicken. Add some scotch to the mixture. The amount will depend on how much fun you wish to have. Do not use your finest 15-year barrel-aged scotch — this will ruin the sauce with the taste of peat. In other words, pour the good stuff into a glass with 3 cubes of ice, and dump the cheap stuff into the sauce.

Enjoy with friends!

-Kathy

Yield: 6 servings
Oven: 350 deg. F.

Ingredients for the stuffing:
• ¼ c soft cream cheese
• 1 T blue cheese crumbles
• 1 T grated good quality parmesan cheese
• 1 T grated jack cheese
• 1 T minced shallots
• Salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients for the chicken breasts:
• 6 7-8 oz. boneless chicken breasts halves skin left intact, rinsed and patted dry
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Flour
• Canola or olive oil

Ingredients for the sauce:
• 1 cup red grapes cut in half
• 1/3 cup chardonnay
• 1 T fresh lemon juice
• 2 tsp honey
• 1 T unsalted butter (optional)

To make the stuffing – Combine the first five ingredients. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

To make the chicken – Salt and pepper the skin side of the chicken breast, dredge with flour and sauté both sides until golden brown. Cut a pocket in each breast: Lay the breast skin side up on a cutting board. Hold a 5- or 6-inch sharp, thin-bladed knife with its flat side parallel to the cutting board. About half way up and midway along the thicker side of the breast, carefully make an incision that goes deep into the breast but doesn’t break through the opposite side. Place a tablespoon or so of the stuffing into the pocket. Put the chicken on a baking sheet and place in the preheated oven. Bake until just cooked (about 10- 15 minutes).

To make the sauce – Place the first four ingredients in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. After the sauce thickens drop in the chilled butter. Swirl until the butter melts. With the chicken on a plate, spoon the sauce over the breasts. Serve immediately. Enjoy!