What is a date?

Today while touring the Palm Springs area I saw signs for "Date Shakes" It sounded kinda weird and then I realized I didn't know much about dates.


What is a Date? Well, a date is grown on a Date Palm. They are grown in Iraq, Morocco, Southern California and Arizona. This week we stayed at a resort just off Date Palm Drive, so Dates are or were an important agricultural product of Palm Springs. Dates can be eaten as is or may be pitted and stuffed with fillings such as almonds, walnuts, candied orange and lemon peel, marzipan or cream cheese. They are commonly used as a key ingredient in fruit cake. My Grandmothers loved dates and would make great date cookies. I'm afraid that there use has diminished greatly today and they are rarely found in the modern kitchen.




In an effort to revive the date and bring it back to light I provide the following recipe, bring on the date!



Drop Date Cookies

* 1/4 cup butter
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 1 egg -- beaten
* 1/4 cup warm water
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt

FILLING:

* 1 package dates (small pkg) -- chopped
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 3/4 cup warm water
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
* OR maple extract
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs, water and vanilla. Stir dry ingredients in.
Boil the filling ingredients slowly until dates are cooked then thicken with cornstarch.
Drop cookie dough on cookie sheet. Put some date filling on top, then put a dab of cookie dough on top of the filling. Bake in 400° oven for 10-15 minutes.

We made it!

After 12 hours of driving (it really was quite enjoyable) we made it to Rancho Mirage, near Palm Springs.



We began the day at around 8am (just on time for a scheduled 6:30 am planned departure) stopped in Beaver at the cheese factory, without getting any cheese, a first and continued with short stops in Street George and Baker CA. There were opportunities to recall trips of days gone bye including Bun Boy, its now a Big Boy and the infamous ZZYZX Click here to find out more than you wanted to know about the ZZYZX exit south of Baker. Other than being the last word in the English dictionary it was home to Soda Springs a spa and resort but never like our present hotel.

The mom will be posting an entry concerning our trip and how it turns out, I can say know that it is off to a hot start, it's 101 at 8pm! See ya, the dadoo.

It's Corn Time!

I can't believe that fall is here, the long days of summer is fading to shorter days and cool autumn breezes. The other day at the PGA golf tournament, I spoke with a golfer from Georgia who was enjoying the great weather we are experiencing of late. He related how humid and uncomfortable it is in his home state. We do live in an exceptional area, and noooow it time for the return of the CORN MAN!

Yes, one my favorite celebrations is Halloween which leads to my all time favorite Thanksgiving. A unique Utah tradition is the Corn Maze or Corn "Maize" in some circles. I am not aware of another part of the country that does Halloween like our state. Possibly because of the number of young people who live here, or that we seem to have avoided the mischief and mayhem that accompanies Halloween in many other states.


I found that this Corn Maze is patterned after none other than our own David Archulta. Cornbellys Corn Maze and Pumpkin Fest begins September 21st at Thanksgiving Point. Hi CORN MAN!

Dog Town

This week Response Agency we began a project to help raise funds to support the Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends has been working towards a goal of "No More Homeless Pets". For over 25 years Best Friends has helped reduce the number of dogs and cats being destroyed from 17 million to 5 million.

National Geographic Channel started the second season of Dog Town which is kind of like a reality show for dogs and the care provided by the vets and other personnel of Best Friends. The season opener was on the pit bulls that were owned by NFL Football player Michael Vick. Vick is serving prison time for an abuse of animal charge

Best Friends Animal Society is located in Kanab Utah and has a nationwide network of groups encouraging neutering of pets and a huge ranch where unwanted dogs, cats, horses and other creatures.

It's a fun project, I'll keep you informed as we move forward.