Date Paste
With all the hoopla that has been going on in the raw foods community surrounding the "rawness" of agave nectar, here's an alternative, natural sweetener: Date Paste.
Date paste, you ask?
Where can you get it? Well, actually you can make it yourself. Just pit some dates, Medjool preferably. Then, in a high-speed blender, add the dates with a little bit of water, and blend away until smooth and creamy. The more water you add, the thinner the consistency and the more diluted the taste. Now if you prefer to do this by hand, just use a mortar and pestle. Same results, just takes a lot longer (if you don't mind).
What's it for? Use as a sweetener without added liquid. Useful in cakes, cookies, crusts, icing, mousse, pies, toppings, ice cream, parfait, puddings, truffles. You name it!
Date Paste
Yield: Approximately 2 cups
Ingredients
2 cups Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup filtered water
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Preparation
In a high-speed blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. For a more syrupy consistency, add more water.
Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days
