Is it time to slow down?
This week has been a bit crazy! You know life gets like that sometimes right! First, the weather couldn’t decide if it was still baking hot (come on, 25c in the UK is hot)! or if there was suddenly going to be an almighty downpour. I actually got stuck in the greenhouse as it honestly looked all blue skies and sunshine, then all of sudden wham! The rain came down so fast I could barely see… not that I can see anyway! This week I’ve been to the opticians not once, but twice – and I don’t even wear glasses!
Anyway, this week was a big week for a charity I’m involved with. We hosted a corporate day at a local office, with three different groups of volunteers, two pallets of stock delivered, and a whole load of donated products to sort through. It was a fantastic, energetic collaboration and, between everyone, over 1400kg of products were distributed to lots of different organisations. Pretty amazing!
So, hot weather, rainy weather, and lots of being busy! Was there much cooking? Not really. A roast at the weekend, some homemade tofu, a load of salad, crispy potatoes… and snacks!
The Stuffed Date Recipe
Because sometimes it’s the snacks that keep you going when it’s hot, right?! So here’s something super simple that I’ve actually been making since before 2017 (I know that because I used to sell them in a previous life)! Not so much of a recipe – more a do this and it will be delicious!
Grab yourself a nice soft date – the bigger and squishier the better. Carefully slit the top and remove the seed (but don’t bin it – date seed experiments are definitely happening, so rinse, dry and save it for later)! Fill the centre with smooth peanut butter and top with a pecan half. Pop it in the fridge to chill, and that’s it – a naturally sweet, protein-packed energy boost. Perfect when you’re busy, it’s hot, and you need something tasty and quick to keep you going.
Alternative ideas
Want to mix things up? Swap the peanut butter for almond butter, a nut-free seed butter, or even tahini (if you’re feeling adventurous – and yes, that one’s for you!). Try making your own chocolate spread style filling by mixing cocoa with the nut butter – the dates will add the sweet balance perfectly. Drizzle with a bit of melted dark chocolate, sprinkle over some desiccated coconut, or top with a crushed pistachio or two. You could even add a pinch of sea salt or a dusting of cinnamon. There’s no wrong way to customise these – just go with what you’ve got and what you love.
Storage
Stuffed dates will happily keep in the fridge for at least a week – just pop them in an airtight container. The dates themselves last ages, and peanut butter’s not far behind. If you’ve topped them with pecans (or any nuts), they might soften a little over time, but they’ll still taste great. For longer storage, just add the nut topping fresh when you’re ready to eat.
Sharing
I’d love to hear if you give these a try, or if you have any other fun snack ideas you’re loving right now.
As always, I love hearing about any recipes of mine you try, any ideas you adapt or suggestions you have for future recipes. Please share and tag me @LifeDietHealth or using #LifeDietHealth on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or X.
Leave me a comment below… I love to chat!
I hope to speak with you soon
Laurena x
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