Are Natural Delights on your Christmas list?

As the holiday season approaches, we spend more and more time in the kitchen, making a wide range of recipes for our families and friends to enjoy. Add a few tubs of Natural Delights Medjool Dates to your grocery list and you’ll find they’re the perfect addition to many recipes, both savoury and sweet.

Natural Delights Medjool Dates are found in the produce section of most grocery stores, and are a healthy way to add sweetness and depth of flavour to almost anything you’re preparing.

You can use Medjool dates in many ways:

• Add pitted whole Medjool dates to a cheese plate instead of grapes
• Garnish a hearty soup with chopped Medjools
• Add Medjool dates to turkey stuffing for a hint of sweetness
• Add Medjools to almost any side dishes including potatoes and most vegetables, either as a festive garnish or mixed right into the dish
• Add pitted whole Medjool dates to a plate of cookies or other dessert treats

And of course, as a healthy, quick energy source when you just don’t have time to eat—take a few Medjool dates along for a healthy snack when you’re doing last minute shopping!

If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing, elegant appetizer that has something for everyone, try the “Something for Everyone” Medjool Date Party Platter. Grab your Medjool dates out of the cupboard or fridge and get them stuffed! The options are endless and you can use a variety of combinations that will get everyone excited to try them all!

 

“Something for Everyone” Medjool Date Party Platter

You can combine many of these fillings—so get creative and have fun! The sweetness of the Medjool dates pairs nicely with almost anything in your fridge or pantry.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

1 tub Natural Delights Medjool Dates

Filling Options:

Savoury
Chopped red and green bell pepper (perfect for Christmas!)
Baby dill or gherkin pickles, sliced Potato chips, crumbled

Cheesy
Blue cheese, crumbled
Cream or goat cheese
Old cheddar cheese, sliced

Nutty
Peanut butter, smooth or chunky
Peanut or pecan halves, chopped
Walnut halves

Sweet
Dried apricots, cranberries or cherries
Shaved coconut
Mascarpone cheese (perfect with Champagne for New Year’s!)
Chocolate, dark or white

Using a small paring knife, make a small lengthwise cut in each Medjool date and remove the pit; set aside.

Fill the dates with your favourite flavours and combinations. Here are some to try: Cheese with peppers or pickles, peanut butter with dried fruit, pecans with cheese or chocolate with coconut.

The fillings on their own or in combination with each other will make up a delicious platter of nibbles that your guests will enjoy!

 

A healthy, natural choice

Natural Delights Medjool Dates contain important vitamins and minerals, are high in antioxidants called polyphenols, and they rate low-medium on the Glycemic Index.

Medjool dates are:

• Fat free
• Cholesterol free
• Low in sodium
• Source of fibre
• Source of energy
• Source of magnesium

They contain no sulphites or added sugars.

Fresh Natural Delights Medjool Dates are available year-round in the produce section, and they stay fresh for a long time in the refrigerator. Look for the clear plastic tubs in the produce section of your local grocery or specialty foods store and keep them on hand year-round!

For more information and recipes, visit naturaldelights.ca