It took me a while to like dates. But living in Dubai, you cant help but encounter them in all their many varieties. A California Medjool date tastes kinda nasty and rubbery after the heavenly creaminess of the Khalas or the Lulu.
Date Granola
Mix 3 cups rolled oats with 1 cup well-chopped nut of your choice (I like walnut with date.)
Melt 1/4 cup cocoanut oil with 1/3 cup of honey, a 1/2 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of cinnamon.
Combine these and spread the mixture on a baking sheet.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Set a timer and turn the mixture every 10 minutes, making sure it does not burn.
When oats and walnuts are toasted, remove pan from oven. While still warm, stir in 3/4 cup pitted chopped dates (don't use Lulu's, they are too creamy for this, they fall apart).
Dill Pickles
There is nothing more satisfying that making your own pickles. This can be a massive project, or actually relatively simple if you make refrigerator pickles.
1 lb cucmbers- washed and sliced how you like them
Jars to accomodate your cucumbers (since these are going into the fridge, concern yourself with cleanliness, but dont worry too much about sterility).
For the brine:
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider or white vinegar
1 tsp. caster sugar
1 1/2 tbsp salt (sea salt or kosher- larger flakes)
In the bottom of your jar, put two tablespoons of dried dill weed OR a couple of large sprigs of fresh dill and one clove of garlic, sliced thinly (if you like, you can add a dried red hot pepper too). Add the cucumbers. Bring your brine to a boil. Let it cool a little and pour the mixture over the cucumbers. Put the lid on the jar and refrigerate as soon as possible.
Sounds like easy dill pickles! I am going to pin this.
ReplyDeleteYum! Dates are yummy! Homemade dill pickles... even yummier!
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