Those who follow my blog for few years now probably got it that I LOVE fruit. All fruit. Sweet, sour, soft or crunchy. From first few strawberries, blueberries, to late apples - it's all welcome. I also love tropical fruit and even started growing my own lemons and other citrus, small banana palm and a pineapple. But sometimes I get a cravings for thing that are not available in this area, and my sister either brings me fruit when she's visiting or sends in a package. Today is one such day - I got a box of fresh Dates. Most people have tried dried dates (usually stuffed with peanut butter for some reason which makes me gag). But how many have tried fresh variety?
On the picture you can see some are still very light color - they are very crisp and crunchy, not very sweet and have this tart/numbing property when you eat them - I LOVE them. On another hand, few are very very ripe and you can see them by dark overripe color - they are very mushy and that's what usually being used to dry. They are SUPER sweet and I'm not a big fan of that. I like the nice middle- almost fully ripe but still a crunch to it.
Next on my target is to get fresh green pistachios once they're in season in October! I love fresh not-dry nuts like walnuts and pistachios so I try to find them whenever they come on the market. Afterwards it will be very large pomegranates and Pomelos right in time for Christmas :)
I have actually never seen fresh dates before - I do enjoy dried dates on occasion, but have never seen them smeared with peanut butter...doesn't sound very appetizing. How lucky you are that your sister is able to provide you with these treats!
ReplyDeleteI like dried dates on ocasion but I do prefer them fresh. And yes, i'm very lucky she's in LA with access to all these goodies.
DeleteI've never had a fresh date and very few dried ones.
ReplyDeleteI don't eat dried ones too often as i find them very sweet, but I do add them to the banana bread :)
DeleteI've had fresh dates. Those dark ones are basically candy. Reminds me of the overly sweetened and sticky fruit they use to make Fruit Cake. Although... The dates are not disgusting like fruit cake.
ReplyDeleteI've never had fresh dates. I take it your sister sent this to you from where?
ReplyDeletei've never seen a fresh date! just bought dried ones yesterday to make healthy caramel and pie crusts with crushed coconut flakes and almonds. they're used a lot in raw desserts. have you tried a date with peanut butter? it's actually really good. like raisins and peanut butter if you like that sort of thing =)
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