Hot Dates

 Dates are popular again. People are discovering that they're the perfect sweet treat and a healthy bite; There's a new interested in these deep brown gems and they't=re getting a makeover It's not just dates anymore .It's dates with something added

New contributor and food wrote Kendra Vaculin wrote about this classic fruit in yesterday's New York TImesm Wednesday Food section.What once was something sold in Arab markets and specialty stores is now at the forefront of American eating, especially snacking.They don;t have the glamour of other fruits. They are wrinkled, dusty looking and the size of a thumb. Yet a number of brands are transforming them in a number of ways to appeal to fiber desperate and sugar skeptical buyers,They're now in every supermarket  aisle - stuffed and dipped with candy. The're a top ingredient in power bars along with being in the baking aisle  as date sugar. Of course they can also be bought in the produce section, whole and unadulterated .Some cynics see this rise in popularity similar to the kale chip craze of a few years ago. However snack retailers and brands are predicting the dates day is yet to come.Dates are igh in fiber and they are considered a macro nutrient Three dates have five grams of fiber important because women need twenty five grams per day while men need thirty.

Dates are  noting new , having grown and cultivated for thousands of years in the Middle East and North Africa. They're the first bite to break a fast and as a way to welcome guests into the home. Tagines have them as an ingredient and the British adapted them for their sticky toffee pudding, Now Americans are discovering them as well as their by products. Bajer are using it in everything from  cakes to cookies. They give off a caramel like sweetness to any baked product. Consumers are preferring them as an natural sweet snack , rich in protein and free of any artificial ingredients or additives. They're lower on the glycemic index according to Vanessa Rissetto , a dietician and nutritionist. They may taste decadent but have zero impact on a person;sblood sugar. Yet manufacturers want to stuff them in peanut butter or roll them in cocoa powder which takes away from the dates ' rich flavor. Thus also  messes up the dates calories by adding extra sugar. Eat them plain and not fancied up with a filling and then dipped in dark chocolate.like Michelle Dalton Valedez own er of  Date Better.

Dates are popular right now. Have one a day as a snack, Use in smoothies.Even mince one up in salads. They are good tasting and good for you.

Feasting After The Fast

 After  day of fasting the foods of Eid al-Adha  are not only nourishing but also delicious. They celebrate when the willingness of the prophet Ibraham to sacrifice his son Ismail. It is a holiday of sacrifice but there is also a side that shows love of family and heritage.

Fasting is one of the important factors of the holiday.It's an actor worship that brings Muslims closer to Allah.It's also empathizing with those who don;t have access to food. Charity is also a must .Muslims mist also share or give food to those in need. Not only is food not allowed but also water, and medicine (although this doesn't apply to the elderly and sick). At sundown the food comes out and there is feasting until daylight. lamb is very big during these night time dinners. Families can make a spiced lamb curry tat's ripe with apricot and saffron.There is also the Palestinian qurbani which can be beef , lamb or mutton. There is also the choice of kababs. A popular one is galouti which iOS made from minced meat, namely lamb. The shami one is Pakistani has dal or lentils added to it and made with beef. Masala flavoring is added to it.There is another kabak from Pakistan , the seekh and it is fried beef . lamb ro chicken mixed with onions and chili peppers for a hot flavorful treat.  Haruyali type of kebab has a green curry sauce on it and it's usually chicken.

Every meal ends with a sweet feasts of various desserts. Many home bakers will make ma'moul , a kind of shortbread ring filled with either pistachios, dates or walnuts.Some dinners will end with makrouta, a flaky cookie filled with dates. Cardamon and anise flavor the dough giving it a rich scent and taste. Stuffed dates are also a good dessert after the highly seasoned foods. These treats called Tamr mahshi throughout the Middle East are filled with different nuts like walnuts,pistachios and almonds. Chopped fruit and cream can also be used as fillings.A creamy rich dessert is Muhallibi, a mixture of milk and sugar thickened with cornstarch or rice.I's cooked and poured into molds to set.It can be topped with pistachios, shredded coconut, cinnamon or raisins.There is also a rolled cookie not only made for Eid but also for weddings.The dough is made with flour butter and yeast with fennel  and Nigella seeds for flavor. They can be filled with either walnuts or dates and both fillings are rich with cinnamon and cardomom along with butter for the dates.

The day is for fasting. The night is for celebrating. Both savory and sweet dishes make for a perfect Eid Al Adha meal.

Protein Bars With A Flavor Kick

Protein bars can either taste too crunchy granola or like twigs. Not so with Unite, a new company out of Yorba Linda, California, They've come up with three flavors that's sure to make everyone happy. There's  PB &Jelly, Churros and Mexican Hot Chocolate. They are unusual too, in the sense that they're the world's first globally inspired flavors. Another unusual aspect? The main ingredients are dates, hemp seeds , nut butters and probiotic fibers, great for your gut.

How are the flavors? The best is the Mexican Hot Chocolate which has a layer of dark chocolate on the bottom.It has cinnamon too and the unexpected kick of hot chili. The Churro flavor has almonds and sweet vanilla with a dusting of cinnamon on top, exactly like the fried doughy treats.

The peanut butter has creamy peanut butter and little gobs of strawberry jam. All three are interesting, a bit intense for my taste but kids should love them. They're also moister than the average granola bar, and very chewy. thanks to the main ingredient being dates. The bars can be the perfect snack for backyard picnics and soccer games.The Churro and Mexican Hot Chocolate are only 190 calories a bar while the PB & Jelly is just 180 calories. There's no trans fat or cholesterol, so they're even good for adults watching their weight or trying to lose weight from being cooped up;

 A different spin would be cutting them up in small chunks and mixing them with either vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream.

Try Unite's globally inspired protein bars. Have the PB & Jelly for a snack and Churro or Mexican Hot Chocolate for a different kind of dessert. They're a nice change up from the usual protein bars.

Ramadan Apart Yet Together

Ramadan is one of those holidays that demands family eat together whether before or after the day's fast. Yet , now it's become a virtual holiday with families sharing delicious meals with family recipes. it is still a familial feast but done differently.

Amelia Nierenberg, a regular contributor wrote about the holiday of Eid al-Fitr for today's New York Times Food section. She interviewed various families throughout the country. Their backgrounds are assorted, from Muslims of Pakistan to Filipino ones. Ramadan holy days of observance consists of two daily meals, the suhoor meals before sunrise and the evening ones or iftars. Both are important, especially for those with large families who gather around tables groaning with dishes. Now it's all virtual. They're eating the same dishes with each other but miles, and even states apart. For Nieda Abbas of New Haven ,Connecticut has been through different Ramadans in different countries. There were fasts in her hometown of Baghdad during the American occupation, followed by observing the holiday in an Iran splintered in sectarianism. Then there was the refuge camp in Turkey. Nothing is as scary as being in New Haven, where going outside is scarier than being in a bombed out war zone. Yet she persists.There is homemade baklava for her children. During the day she cooks for Havenly Treats, a nonprofit organization that helps immigrants. For Imam Amr Dabour of Sacramento, California, the social distancing means praying on line with Zoom and drive through iftars on Friday nights. They get hot food , catered by local restaurants.

Doctors are have the double duty of caring for Covid-19 patients and fasting. Dearborn, Michigan's Zafar Shamoon is the chief of emergency services at the city's Beaumont Hospital. His schedule is hectic and tiring. He misses his cups of coffee that provide him with boosts of energy. Some non-Muslim colleagues  help him so he can take breaks to fast and pray. His six year old daughter brings him dates and water , what the prophet Mohammed ate to break his fast.Newly converted Shawn Grant and his Algerian wife Samah made North African foods. She made bourek , pastries filled with spiced ground meat, cheese and eggs. Sometimes fasting and feasting occur alone as with lawyer Zaheer Maskatia in Washington along with inmate Hassen Mostafa Hassen in Arlington Virginia.  Both have traditional food , especially dates for Mr. Hassen , the taste of sweetness he needs from his Eritrean parents. Yazan Natsheh of Plano, Texas usually celebrates with his frat brothers at the University of Texas at Dallas. This year he's with his parents making maqluba, a Palestinian meat and rice dish that's flipped upside down,  Then there is the Manhattan housekeeper who creates her Indonesian Ramadan dishes of kentang belado, potatoes with hot red sauce and ikan acar kuning, yellow fish. There is also tapioca to make bubble tea and a dish  made with it , ground beef, egg whites and garlic, salt and pepper.

Ramadan is the most holiest of Muslim holidays. It's celebrated in a variety of different ways. What holds them together is the traditional fasting and breaking the fasts. Food is their tradition, during unusual times and ordinary ones.

A Holiday Buffet Of Sandwiches

Forget the canapes and mini bruschettas. Nix the pineapple and bacon sticks. Finger sandwiches are the way to go for your holiday party. They can be fun; they can be elegant. Most of all they are filling and tasty - two musts for any party food. Serve them and you'll have happy guests.

David Tanis was of this mindset when he created a variety of different sandwiches for his City Kitchen column in yesterday's New York Times Food section. His inspiration was the famed Nora Charles, Dashiell Hammett's heroine, portrayed by the great Myrna Loy. Nora and her husband, Nick, played by William Powell solve crimes in the glamourous Art Deco Thirties. During one wild Christmas party  she calls room service to order up a whole flock of sandwiches. This can work today. Mr. Tanis offers a whole flock of tasty ones that will suit everyone's tastes. They're tiny bites of flavor that can be prepared throughout the evening. The ingredients are interesting and guests as well as hosts will feel satisfied after three. It's also prudent, especially if you intend to also serve buzzy drinks and punches. Imbibing on a full stomach will cut down the threat of them getting buzzed or sick too quickly .Another plus, guests can bring home extra sandwiches or they can be served the next day for lunch (although there may not be any left). Just remember the bread is the most important part. Get Pullman or rye loaves. Challah and sourdough boules work too as do good brioche buns. If you can't get these, fall back on King's Hawaiian rolls that work for a vast variety of sandwich bases.

Of course there is the traditional sandwich. Mr. Tanis pairs steak with peppery watercress and jalapeno. on small whole wheat or brioche buns To moisten it try sweet butter (French and unsweetened) and sour cream. He also makes an egg salad without mayo! How does he do it? With olive oil combined with good green Spanish olives, scallions and celery. To give the mix more color  there's red pepper and parsley for a Christmas-y vibe. It's served on sliced, buttered challah bread (you could toast it if you want) and arugula. Anchovy can be added as can capers. There's a riff on the classic date and nut bread with cream cheese. The dates this time are in the cream cheese mixed with a little lime juice. Mr. Tanis recommends using soft juicy dates and natural cream cheese (which you can find at Wegman's). If you can find the last , then sub in ricotta cheese. Crispy salted rosemary herbed pecans are sprinkled on top to offset the sweetness. There is also my favorite croque monsiuer which is spiked with Dijon mustard. You have the choice of using Emmanthal, Gouda or Monterey Jack. Mr. Tanis tops it with a bechamel sauce but you can omit this if you want. These are also baked  which is traditional and served warm. If they do get cold, a quick heat in the oven will revive them.

As Nora Charles would say, have a flock of sandwiches at your holiday party. A small plate of different ones will make any guest happy. They're fun and festive , but best of all filling. Just make sure your Asta* doesn't steal a few.

 * Asta was the Charles' faithful terrier in "The Thin Man" series.

A Welcome Blast Of Cold.Reveri Frozen Desserts

November s not normally a time for frozen treats yet there is one that is a perfect end to holiday dinners - Reveri  a plant based frozen dessert. This healthy ice cream is not only good but good for you. It's plant based with a flavorful blend of fruits and even veggies!

Reveri started with the idea of a good for you dessert. The creators wanted a frozen treat that could "love" the eater as the eater loves ice cream.It had to be plant based, healthy and low in calories. They succeeded ,combining such diverse ingredients as avocados, beets, cocoa, blueberries , dates, almonds, cashews and strawberries The result is an amazing treat you can eat for breakfast , lunch or even dinner as well as for dessert and snacks. I had to try these, as I 'm slowly cutting down on dairy.

The four flavors are  vanilla almond blossom,purple mint chip, chocolate forest and strawberry patch. What I love the most about all the flavors is the mouth feel. It's like a rich creamy mousse. It's so light and airy that it feels whipped. The purple mint chip is my favorite .I love the added crunch of the cocoa nibs.I paired it with coconut whipped cream for a truly decadent dessert.

The strawberry is perfect too, reminding me of a fresh made summery mousse. I also like the vanilla almond blossom, which has  almond slivers in it. Another favorite is the chocolate forest with the crunch of those yummy cocoa nibs. What is a huge surprise is that these decadent spoonfuls have only fifteen to twenty fat calories in a serving. This is the perfect ice cream for dieters who need the comfort of a cold bowlful. and parents watching their kids' fat intake.

Hopefully Reveri will come out with more flavors, possibly coconut and peanut butter, or maybe a wild raspberry or blackberry. They should come out with popsicles along with a line of healthy cones and bowls.

Reveri is the healthy treat that's even perfect on a cold night. Try a scoop and enjoy this lush  mousse like dessert.It's better than ice cream in so many ways.

Squash For Dessert

Now is the time for all things squash.It's can be sauteed with garlic , baked with butter, and stuffed with breadcrumbs. It can also be the basis of cakes and sauce too. Now you can have it with a cup of coffee or tea for a sweet snack or dessert.

What can you do with this curcurbita? Surprisingly you can roast it in sections and serve with ice cream or even spiced whipped cream. It's just  cutting them into sections and de-seeding them so that they resemble cantaloupe, ,baste them with melted butter or coconut oil and then sprinkle on either pumpkin pie spice blend or cinnamon .Roast in a 400 degree oven for forty-five minutes to an hour. Serve warm with spiced whipped or butter pecan ice cream (or both!)Mash it and it can become an ice cream topping - squash sundae anyone? This requires a cup of brown sugar along with orange juice and a tiny pinch of salt, cooked with the veggie and then mashed into a thick compote.Squash bites are another sweet treat.These are Middle Eastern inspired , spiked with saffron and turmeric and mixed with a dough of mashed almonds and pitted medjool dates. The butternut squash has to be zoodled or spiralized which creates fun orange stripes running through the bites. Ground cardamom seeds are also used for more flavor. It can be put in a dehydrator however if you don;t have one , try a low oven at 125 degrees F for about half hour to forty-five minutes.

Of course you can bake squash into bars and cookies. A great recipe for bars is one topped with streusel, in a kind of marriage between coffee cake and pumpkin pie , It's a cake bottom with a pumpkin pie like filling, thanks to the cinnamon, nutmeg , and ground ginger. The streusel is a yummy mix of butter, cinnamon and brown sugar and pecans. A fun way to get the kids to eat relatively healthy is to make squash cookies.The butternut squash is cooked and mashed, again spiked with ginger and cinnamon. The gourd can be a star ingredient in many different kind of cakes too. A fall dinner party can end with an elegant layer cake , highlighted with only maple and filled and frosted with a brown sugar Swiss. meringue. A great snacking cake is the butternut coffee cake. It's a spiced up pecan loaded version of  the regular kind which would be fun at a  brunch or weekend picnic. Another fun version is a butternut sponge roll filled with a fluffy light cream cheese frosting. Again maple and walnut give the cake added flavor. A different birthday party treat is butternut  squash cupcakes with caramel cream cheese frosting.It's basically the same as the other cakes but in cupcake form with caramel sauce added.I'd use Smucker's salted caramel  to give it a savory kick.

Squash is primarily a side or a vegetarian main dish. Yet it can be made into a tasty dessert using fall flavors. Try it as an ice cream sauce, cake, cupcake or cookie, Get to know its' sweet side.

The Dates Of Ramadan

Ramadan starts tonight and with it  both fasting and feasting. The feasting comes early in the morning and late at night. Dates play an important part in both meals. They not only serve as nutrition but also are part of a tradition that goes back centuries. They can be made into both sweet and savory dishes, beloved by all.

Julia Moskin explored this in her article in today's New York Times Food section. Muslims do not eat during the day when they observe Ramadan. Eating occurs either during the predawn suhoor and the sundown meal, iftar. Dates figure prominently in the meals, since the Prophet Mohammed himself broke the fast with dates and water. The fruit proves a quick pop of energy after fasting. They have been grown in the Middle East for millennia. They are mentioned often in the Quran and the Bible along with ancient Assyrian and Sumerian texts. Surprisingly, they belong to the same botanical family as grasses and not fruits. This explains why they have more in commons with grains than with bananas, apples, or grapes. They contain potassium, iron, zinc and other minerals. Dates are a dietary staple. They've been grown here in the States for the last century.The Agricultural Department wanted to transform the southwest's arid fields into lush gardens and the date palm perfectly fit that description. They thrive in California's Coachella Valley  (yes, that Coachella, where the music fest takes pace) and Yuma , Arizona. sales are good, thanks to a growing Arab population in Southern California and people discovering the fruit's health benefits.

Ms. Moskin has discovered that a date is not just a date. There are several different types. One of the most popular is the barhi date, liked because it can also be eaten in its' yellow, unripe stage. Unlike its' riper , sweeter self, or called tamar, this young fruit has a touch of astringency like a tart grape or crisp apple, making it perfect for balancing rich and savory dishes. There are actually three different types of dates: soft which covers the types. the barhi,halawi,khadrawi and medjool, semi hard which has the deglet noor,dayri, amaray and zahidi and dry like the thoori.. Flavors also vary as well. Some could taste like rich molasses  while others have a light butterscotch flavor. There are dates that even are reminiscent of cognac and burnt caramel. Dishes vary as well. There is savory chicken roast chicken ,redolent of the fruit along with couscous and buttered almonds. Medjool dates are added to a freekah or wheat berry side dish that also has carrots. The same dates can also be whipped up into a tasty side or dessert with crème fraiche,almonds, walnuts or pecans and pistachios. Many Iranians transform the dates into an elaborate dessert for Eid ad-Fitr, a great feast on the first night of the month that follows Ramadan.It is a traditional date cake, cooked with cinnamon and cardamom and then layered with  walnuts.

Dates are an important part of Ramadan and Eid-ad_Fitr. They connect generations and dishes, from savory to sweet. Try them as part of the ritual or t enjoy their many health benefits.

A Middle Eastern Seder

Yesterdays Dining section in The New York Times had an interesting article about Iranian seders. it's not so much about the religion, but about the country. Persians . Iranians make their holiday meals according to the custom. They tend to follow their former country's culinary traditions as opposed to strictly adhering to their Jewish ones.

The article, expertly, written by Joan Nathan,. tells of the Iranian Jews in Southern California. Many left during the Sixties during the reign of the last shah. They incorporated So Cal staples such as fresh dates into heir Passover dishes. These were mixed with the traditional and ancient spices of turmeric and cardamon. Some dishes such as charoset have bananas added along with pears and pomegranate juice. This is also heavily laced with dried fruits and spices such as cardamon and cinnamon reflecting more the country's tastes than the religious. Also the Iranians add basmati rice, something that American Jews forbid during Passover.

Many dishes have a distinctly Middle Eastern feel to them. There are grape leaves stuffed with dried fruit such as plums, dates and raisins. This is normally not seen in any of the Ashkenazi or even Sephardic dinners. Another variant is the dessert cake. It's a take on the flourless ones using ground almonds with but this time with a variety of spices as a base. Pistachios, a nod towards ancient Persian taste, are added on top. There are also dairy products involved in Passover especially for soon to be married couples. An engaged daughter and her family will have what's called a hametzy that features yogurt and an Iranian version of creme fraiche. The groom's family is supposed to supply the dairy products.

Middle Eastern Jews have the best of both worlds when it comes time for Passover. The combine ancient traditions with their native dishes. This creates a unique blend of the secular and religious world. which is usually separated during this holy time. This provides a strong hold of both cultural and Jewish pride.

Cupcakes Gone Global!

Well it looks like that American standard has gone international. What am I writing about? Not Coke or Pepsi. Not hamburgers or popcorn but cupcakes. Yes, cupcakes. In yesterday's Food section of the Times (remember it's Thursday and one article is always dissected) there was a piece about cupcakes shop hitting theMiddle East. Who on earth can resist this classic sweet. There's nothing like a moist tender cake under a big fluffy mound of buttery frosting!



The article written by Anna Louis Sussman write;s about Sugar Daddy's, a new cupcake shop in Amman, Jordan>, The owner FadiJaber, had an epiphany after eating at the famed Magnolia bakery in Greenwich Village. His customers, mostly women, fell in love with them, thanks to Sex and the city reruns that feature Carrie and friends munching on the famed treats. He has also opened shops in Lebanon, Isreal and Tel Aviv. Not only does he sell American style cupcakes but also brownies and cheesecakes.



You might wonder how well the cupcake translates for international tongues. Everyone from England to China seems to like this low key treat. They can also be adopted to fit the country's tastes. Mr. Jaber makes a "Blind Date" cupcake that's made with chopped dates and a cream cheese icing. Most people worldwide love chocolate and vanilla so even these flavors are nothing out of the ordinary. What may be startling or new to some palate is the amount of icing that every cupcake requires. This may come off as super sweet to countries who prefer plain cakes.



Cupcakes are not only favored by our celebs but by the entire world these days. Let's face it. Who can resist these sweet and colorful treats No one on the planet can!

Dates To Remember

Dates are not a popular fruit. You may see them at Christmas time or in Arab grocery stores here in the US . A lot of Americans won't eat them because they're too sweet or gooey or whatever. yet, like other fruits, they're packed with vitamins and minerals . Another plus - they're pretty tasty too.

Dates come from the date palm tree which is cultivated in Northern Africa and the Middle East. they have been growing there for centuries and dates have been a part of th e regional cuisine for 6,000 years. They were the food eaten by the ancient Egyptians . Egypt is the third largest date grower and importer of them. The Iraqis are first with the Saudi Arabians being second. Dates are chock full of vitamins and minerals, being high in potassium and magnesium. along with calcium and iron. The only drawback is that they are high in calories because of the sugar.

What to do with dates? Most Middle Easterners stuff them with almonds or cream cheese as well as with candied lemon or orange peel. Americans stuff dates with peanut butter and usually serve only at Christmas. However there is the famous date and nut bread along with date pies and date cookies. It can also be used in some North African recipes, such as Moroccan tangine recipes.

Don't discount the date. it is tasty and nutritious. Plus it give you a dose of much needed vitamins and minerals. It's sweet and healthy treat from the oasis.