Deliciously Decadent Dates of the Desert

I thought I'd write about something different that you don't often see in the Blogosphere. It's about Dates. Not the kind that involve dinner and a movie, but the kind you can eat. We grow dates here in the Palm Springs area. There are many different varieties of dates that grow in the Coachella valley; each with their own unique taste and texture. You may be surprised to know that dates are actually good for you. They are rich in several vitamins and minerals; they contain things like oil, calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium. In other words, one date is a minimum of a balanced and healthy diet. Dates are also rich in natural fiber, and are excellent for healthy digestion. And, if that were not enough, dates can also help maintain healthy eyes. So do yourself a favor and eat some dates. There are lots of ways to prepare dates; for example in this photo, they are sliced in half, stuffed with cheese and whole almonds. Here are some other deliciously decadent ways to enjoy dates:

above: cut a slice and insert a small wedge of hard cheese.

above: Stuffed with walnuts and shredded coconut

above: Wrapped in bacon and baked...

above: Drenched in chocolate

So the next time you see dates at a store or on a menu, go ahead and try them, it's a little piece of Palm Springs.

-Rick Rockhill