Making a Date with Dried Dates

I love dried fruits for snacking.
Dried dates. Image Credit: Freeimages

One that I never quite reach for often enough is dates.  The oversize raisin-looking fruit hails from palm trees, so it's not exactly fresh and plentiful in land-locked Iowa. I've only eaten dried, wrinkly dates.

I keep hearing about fresh dates stuffed with mixtures of nuts and candied fruits. They sound delicious!

Have you ever eaten dates? How do you enjoy them?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Note: Today's post will be my last submission for the 2014 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. I've had multiple blog subscribers comment that I'm posting too often (daily) and have chosen to unsubscribe from my blog. I'm also learning that when I reciprocate comments on blogs integrated with Google+, the multiple "comment posts" on my G+ page appear spammy. I write for my readers, and am choosing to respect their feedback. I will resume publishing on my regular Monday schedule on April 14th. Thanks for visiting!

26 comments:

  1. I never knew they were from palm trees! One of the favorite cookies in our family is date bars. They have an oatmeal crumb base and top with a layer of chopped cooked dates in the middle!

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    1. Oh, date bars sound good! I'll have to look those up! Thanks for the tip! ~Angela

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  2. I lived in an Italian neighborhood in NY and dates were a big part of their diet and quiet frequently on the table at their meals. Love them!

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    1. How interesting! I worked at an authentic Italian restaurant in high school, and never saw a date in the joint! Maybe it's a NY thing? LOL! ~Angela

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  3. I haven't tried dates, although I like a lot of dried fruits. I'll have to give them a try. My mom used to stuff them with walnuts.

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    1. I always like them when I have them, but never think to pick them up at the grocery store! ~Angela

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  4. I use dates as a sweetener. Put them in my smoothies, chop them into oatmeal. Snacking is great to eat a couple dates along with a handful of walnuts. (too much effort to actually try to stuff them, re: Tania's comment!)

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    1. What a great idea! I never thought to add them to a smoothie! I love it! ~Angela

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  5. Stopping by from the A to Z Challenge. Great theme for the month - always looking for healthier snacks for both the humans and canines in the family.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by SlimDoggy!! I'm also a dog lover...maybe I'll have to do a post about whole food snacks for dogs!!! Fun! ~Angela

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  6. I haven't eaten dates in a long time, but now want to try. They look so good. In fact I almost chose dates for my D fruit. Glad you did instead :)
    Shells–Tales–Sails

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    1. They are yummy! You'll have to pick some up and try them again! ~Angela

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  7. I don't think I've ever eaten dates. They sound delicious. I don't think I've seen them grown in this region either. So yeah... I'd probably have to content myself with the dried wrinkly kind.

    Sorry you have to quit A-Z. Glad I found your blog through the challenge though:-)

    Commenting with Google Plus - I took off that feature from my gardening blog before the A-Z because I was not quite comfortable with people linked to me being bombarded with comments from blogs they did not subscribe to. So I can understand why it can be too much.

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    1. Hi Damaria, Thanks for visiting! I'm sad to leave the A to Z, but I was hoping to grow my blogs, not lose people. *sigh* Being accused of spamming is the last thing I want to be. :) ~Angela

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  8. I just started adding dried dates to my salads - yummmm I never liked them as a child, but now I just can't seem to get enough of them. I slice them thin and toss them on top. Plain - simple and oh so tasty...

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    1. Hi Harleo, what a great idea! I'm going to have to try that! Thanks for the delicious tip! ~Angela

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  9. Well, when I saw the photo I remembered my stash in the door of the refridge. I went and got some. I have to say the only kind I have had is the dried wrinkly kind too. The friend who turned me onto dates herself is from Columbia and her husband is from the middle east somewhere. I have to find out where I can find the wrinkly-free kind. :)

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    1. Yum! They are a tasty little snack that I don't think of often enough! ~Angela

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  10. I love dates, but I don't often eat them. In dried form I just added them to my home made granola I made. As for the A-Z I am sorry that you are dropping out! That makes me sad to read your statement. I won't use G+ for that very reason- spammy and one hit wonders that have nothing to do with a post. I agree with what Damaria said. I prefer posts to me email that way I know when a blog has posted a new post so I don't understand what they mean.

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    1. Ohh, adding dates to homemade granola sounds wonderful! I'll have to try that! Thanks for your note on the A to Z. I'm sad too, but I also don't want to lose readers or be accused of being spammy. This is my 3rd year in the A to Z, so I'm just crushed.... ~Angela

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  11. Yum! I am thinking of Gluten free--to stop the weird itches.

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    1. Yes! Dates are totally gluten-free! YUM!!! ~Angela

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  12. I totally clicked a link at random on the A to Z blog challenge...and ended up here. Hello again Angela. You're going to think I'm stalking you! Enjoyed your post and I'm a big fan of Dates, too. See you around the writing world!

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    1. Jeanne, you're welcome to visit anytime!! :) I have reverted back to my regular blogging schedule and will publish here on Mondays! See you around! ~Angela PS: On April 14 we're talking about what to do with OLD oranges! LOL!

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  13. Oh crap! Now you have me worried. I'll complete A to Z, but I'll have 10 or 11 books out by next year, so I won't be doing it for 2015.

    Precious Monsters

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    1. I don't mean to worry you! I just had to make a business decision to keep my readers happy. :) ~Angela

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