Who Needs a Date?

Me, me, me!  For my birthday, I am hoping to be whisked away to Napa for a date weekend.  Below is a picture of the pad where we are staying.   

 One word...paradise!

This is the place where, in a few weeks, I can play croquet, golf, drink wine, hike, but what I will most likely be doing is this...

Insert me with a chilled glass of wine, a book, and a gorgeous man next to me. 

 That is the date that is on my dome, but it's not the date I am talking about.  I am talking about date, as in the fruit.  Truthfully, I think they are ugly and I never gave them much thought.  That was until I picked some up at the market to blend into a smoothie.  It was good!  I blended a few dates, strawberries, almond milk, and spinach.

 Dates are great for you too.  They are a great source of dietary fiber, protein and vitamin C, B complex, and A.  They are high in potassium and also give you an energy boost.   

 My most favorite way of eating dates is in an energy bar.  I got this recipe from Sunset magazine but changed it up enough to make it my own.  They are insanely good!  My friend Natasha has been asking for the recipe for days and I wasn't going to share, but I love you all too much :)

 Insanely Good Energy Bar 

1/3 cup chopped almonds

1/3 cup chopped cashews

1/4 cup Agave Nectar

1/4 cup Maple Syrup

1/4 cup Maple Almond Butter

1 tsp Cinnamon

2 1/2 cups of Old Fashion Rolled Oats

1/2 cup Craisins

1/4 cup Apple Sauce

3/4 cup Medjool Dates (pitted)

1 tablespoon Chai seeds

1 tablespoon Flax seeds

Sprinkle of Sesame seeds

 Directions

Preheat oven to 325

Spread almonds on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until they are lightly golden. 

Warm agave nectar and maple syrup in microwave until it is thin like syrup.

Put syrup mixture into a food processor with dates (remove pits), oats, and cinnamon.  Pulse until oats are coarsely chopped.

Scrap mixture into a medium bowl.  Break up any large clumps and dates.  You might need to chop the dates a little more. 

Stir in nuts, maple almond butter, applesauce, craisins, chia seeds, flax seeds, and sesame seeds.

Next add oats and craisins to the mixture and stir until well combined.

Squeeze mixture into a ball and place in a parchment paper lined rectangular dish.

Press firmly down until it is tight and flat. 

Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. 

Cut with pizza cutter, wrap individually.

 Enjoy!