Monday, April 07, 2014

Dates Stuffed with Yum

Just recently, I have fallen in love with stuffed dates. I'm sure you're thinking "What the hell took you so long?" And the truth is, I don't know!

I've certainly made stuffed dates before - I've even featured them on my blog - but somehow I wasn't overly impressed. Then, a month or so ago, we had a little party after one of my yoga classes, and one of my students brought dates stuffed with almond butter and topped with cocoa nibs. It was a revelation! It was love at first bite!

have I ever shown you my Roaches In Love plate?
clearly, it is one of the best things ever, in all the world.

Since that moment, stuffed dates are now officially one of my favorite snacks. For a while I was making them just like that - with almond butter and cocoa nibs. It is so good. Then, I also started experimenting with shredded coconut instead of cocoa nibs (spoiler alert: also very good). Then, I realized that people often eat cheese with dates, so I busted out some of my aged cashew chevre (from Miyoko's book Artisan Vegan Cheese) and stuffed some of that into a date with a big hunk of walnut on top - and lo and behold! - that was also delicious!

Right now I am in the middle of teaching a 6-week course on Yoga Philosophy and it's keeping me hard at work. It's pretty much all Yoga Sutras all the time around here - you may have noticed that it's been cutting into my blogging time! With all this deep contemplation and concentration, I need some serious brain food to keep me going. These date snacks are perfect - fun and yummy and chewy and full of good stuff. Also, in the morning, Footie sits in the chair at the end of the table and keeps me company. It's very helpful!

Give me your stuffed date recipes! What are you favorite combos? Now that I am such a little nut for these things, I'm eager to experiment with more varieties. Plus, I've got two more weeks of this class and I'm gonna need lots of dates to get me through!

16 comments:

  1. At least you've discovered them now! I adore them too. My usual is just almond butter but if I'm feeling adventurous I make these pistachio butter & coconut stuffed variety :)
    http://www.wholeliving.com/151444/pistachio-stuffed-dates-coconut

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    1. Oh I did this once, so long ago - thanks for the reminder! I will try this next!

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  2. LOVE stuffed dates. Nature's candy. Thanks for the reminder.

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  3. I love stuffed dates so much. I really only do the almond butter/cacao nib thing but WHOAAA cheese is brilliant. Can't wait to see what other people suggest; I am considering cutting out sugar, so I will definitely need to eat more dates.

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    1. yeah, they are really great on my no-sugar days! satisfy the sweet tooth with a natural and healthy solution.

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  4. Also, I just dunno about that plate.... roaches are just too...blecchh. A friend actually won't eat dates because they remind him too much of roaches!

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    1. ha ha!! well, it probably helps that we don't actually ever see roaches around here - they are more hypothetical for me. I thought the dates and the roach plate were a match made in heaven! ha!

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  5. I usually just do cream cheese or peanut butter. And, I adore the roach roach love dish!
    xo
    kittee

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  6. Anonymous12:28 PM

    First, what a perfect plate! I always think dates look like roaches, and they're in love! aww. (i've always been the type to take them outside and save them from stompers. i grew up in florida. lots of roaches there. here in Seattle, not so much.)

    Second, the only thing i've ever stuffed into a date was the Daiya Jalapeno Garlic Havarti Style Wedge, and it was SO GOOD. i love salty & sweet.

    Third, enjoy the course!

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  7. Isabel5:43 PM

    Best ever: Stuff the inside with cocoa tossed raspberries and drizzle with agave. SO decadent.

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  8. I recently became vegan and I'm enjoying to find out a whole new menu of delicious meals! thanks a lot for sharing these recipes

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  9. Ooooh, yum. I have known about stuffed dates, of course, but I have never made them. Why, I ask myself? I will definitely have to start doing this, sounds like a great snack for my twelve hour work days. Or perhaps a pre-yoga nibble!

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  11. Emilia9:48 AM

    You are so cute. I, too, got recently introduced to these amazing, UBER SIMPLE delights-- and creativity wheels are a- spinning :). Fav combinations as of late.... Pumpkin seed butter~ shredded coconut~ cardamom~ and rose essential oi! Super good and dosha balancing :). I also love raw tahini or coconut butter with goji and cardamom. Too good. Happy date feasting!

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  12. Amy, these look really great! I never had stuffed dates either. So I guess I need to go and buy some dates.

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  13. Yuuuuuum!! All of these stuffed date variation sound totally delicious Amey. I need to try a cheese stuffed date asap!

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