Dates! Who knew?

[Catrin]

Maybe you're lucky and can find a local grower at your farmer's market. There are actually a few fig varieties that can be grown in our climate, with some extra care in the winter time, but it's way too much work to grow them commercially in any quantity.

This is a good idea, I will do that. There are a couple of local farmer's market locations I visit - though far less frequently than I should.

[MrsOski]

my fave date "recipe": when craving cheesecake, stuff one dried date with about a tbsp of cream cheese or goat cheese. eat. restrain from eating another, if you can. I usually can't. lol

[lauraelmore1033]

Yes, I've noticed that dates go very well with cheese; A mini babybel and a date, maybe two, and I'm one contented kitty. Purrr, purrr...

BTW, i've lost 15 pounds now on WW since I started after Christmas (almost 20 in all!) so I think it's a safe indulgence

[Desert Tortoise]

Besides price (+$3 to $4/lb), what is the difference between Medjool dates and the smaller dates?

(I've looked for a name on the smaller ones but doesn't say a type like the Medjools)

Thanks,
dt

[OakLeaf]

Most of the smaller ones you see in the stores are deglet noor.

From Wikipedia:

Three main cultivar groups of date exist: soft (e.g. 'Barhee', 'Halawy', 'Khadrawy', 'Medjool'), semi-dry (e.g. 'Dayri', 'Deglet Noor', 'Zahidi'), and dry (e.g. 'Thoory'). The type of fruit depends on the glucose, fructose and sucrose content....Most commercial plantations thus use cuttings of heavily cropping cultivars, mainly 'Medjool' as this cultivar produces particularly high yields of large, sweet fruit.

I've got to go to the store this afternoon anyway ... now I've got dates in my head and won't be able to leave without any.

[Desert Tortoise]

Thanks! Wow, if the smaller ones are considered semi-dry, the Medjool must be like syrup. Now I'm going to have to try the Medjool.

dt

[Catrin]

I've never tried dates. not really. I didn't like them when they were included in other things. Perhaps I need to give them a chance again