A deeply chocolate-y summer picnic fix from Amy Chaplin's cult classic At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen. Win a copy of the ten-year-anniversary edition!!
ENTER TO WIN: To win this book, like this post (use the heart button) and leave a comment below, answering one of the following questions (choose whichever piques your curiosity more!):
Have you ever baked using dates as the sweetener?
What are your favorite nutrient-dense, low-sugar sweets or treats?
How would winning this book change how you eat at home?
We will pick a winner at random and contact you (via email) to receive your goodie box in the mail. (Must be 18 years + and US based to win. See official rules below*)
I tasted halva in my twenties and did not care for it. Now much older and wiser, my taste buds have matured and I look forward to trying the sesame-halva and tahini combination. I’m so grateful for your talent and dedication.
Oh Sara, I'm so sorry I forgot to update the questions from the last Giveaway (crazy week of kid parties, my work brain is foggy!). But I will enter you to win!! And thank you for your wonderful, kind words.
I started working at a health food store in my 20's and the halva bars were one of my favorite treats. So good! I see the comment below so I am probably responding from the last giveaway, but I don't have the new questions, so hopefully you can still enter me to win!! Thank you so much!
Hi Amy, no worries, that is my fault! I will enter you to win anyway, and if you'd like to engage in this part of the conversation (this helps me get to know all of YOU better), here are the questions for this giveaway.
Have you ever baked using dates as the sweetener?
What are your favorite nutrient-dense, low-sugar sweets or treats?
How would winning this book change how you eat at home?
Oh yes you are reminding me--I think I had my first taste of tempeh at Angelicas!! Amy is such a gifted chef and teacher, and these brownies do not dissapoint (a batch in the oven right now for yet another school thing this afternoon). x
Not sure if this actually counts as a treat, but several years ago I came an online recipe for making small-batch jams with drastically reduced amounts of sugar. Many older jam recipes contain equal or even higher amounts of sugar to fruit! That always seemed wrong to me, so I was happy to come across the recipe I now use. Think the ratio is something like a quart of fresh fruit to 1/2-3/4 cup sugar. Once made, I like to use the jam to sweeten plain yogurt.
This is exactly how I make jams, Aimee, an evolution based on the same thought (jam is great, but is that much sugar necessary?)! It's how most Hungarians (like my mother-in-law) make lekvar or preserves, fruit-forward, and the sugar behind the scenes. You taste big, luscious pieces of preserved fruit, and not a saccharine mouthfeel or aftertaste. My husband/kids like to eat lekvar and preserves by the spoonful, and also over plain yogurt for breakfast, and sometimes dessert. It's the best treat.
I’ve baked with dates🌴❤️ as a sweetener in cookies, energy bars, and homemade Twix bars (thanks
to recipes by Anna Jones, Sarah Britton, and minimalist baker). They are remarkably easy to use and add a sweetness that isn’t cloying to baked goods, no bake treats, and yummy beverages like almond milk, smoothies, and some sauces/salad dressings.
I've had a healthy-ish homemade Twix bar bookmarked to make for months and months--I think it's that very one! Ooh, and a tahini date shake! A classic Moroccan date shake is a profound taste memory from a dinner I attended with a dear friend and his family during Ramadan 20 years ago! I still think about it. 🤍
Love dates! I make date chocolate bark all the time! Just cut and press dates together then spread almond butter over it, then pour melted chocolate over that and top with almond slivers and sea salt. Freeze and then break into pieces. I keep it in the freezer. So good! 😊
I have used dates as a sweetener only in unbaked goods, but I’m eager to try the almond butter brownies and more recipes using dates or other dried fruits instead of refined sugar. I was pleased with some granola bars I made a while back from a recipe in LA pastry chef Nicole Rucker’s first cookbook, “Dappled.” In addition to dates and raisins, the recipe also called for honey, rice syrup, oats and several types of nuts.
Dates are the perfect sweetener/binder in granola bars. I use them in mine too! I'm so glad they've become so accessible and its a joy to read all the wonderful things you are all making!
These look delightful! I have two treats that are nutrient dense that my kids love- one is a chickpea muffin, and the other is a black bean brownie. They actually eat the brownie batter right out of the blender (it’s vegan too). I love the idea of treats that love them back ☺️
Rachel, I’m excited to share that you won! Please check your DMs (in Substack) or your email for details. Thank you for entering, and thank you for being a reader and supporter of my work!
Your lucky kids, having a parent who knows how to teach them that indulgences can also nourish us! Black beans hide so easily in brownies it still amazes me.
This book seems wonderful -- I'm always looking for ways to make healthy meals without sacrificing taste or the joy of cooking and eating, especially now as I consider wanting to bring family and friends healthier foods or baked goods they can enjoy that won't add to any health concerns/conditions they have.
Emily, I’m excited to share that you won! Please check your DMs (in Substack) or your email for details. Thank you for entering, and thank you for being a reader and supporter of my work!
I'm with you, it feels important and special to be able to care for the people we love with treats that won't harm them or make their conditions worse. It's such an act of love to take the time to learn how.
ENTER TO WIN: To win this book, like this post (use the heart button) and leave a comment below, answering one of the following questions (choose whichever piques your curiosity more!):
Have you ever baked using dates as the sweetener?
What are your favorite nutrient-dense, low-sugar sweets or treats?
How would winning this book change how you eat at home?
We will pick a winner at random and contact you (via email) to receive your goodie box in the mail. (Must be 18 years + and US based to win. See official rules below*)
I’ve used dates in energy bars, not anything else. I loved the earlier version of the book, which I borrowed from the library.
I tasted halva in my twenties and did not care for it. Now much older and wiser, my taste buds have matured and I look forward to trying the sesame-halva and tahini combination. I’m so grateful for your talent and dedication.
Oh Sara, I'm so sorry I forgot to update the questions from the last Giveaway (crazy week of kid parties, my work brain is foggy!). But I will enter you to win!! And thank you for your wonderful, kind words.
I started working at a health food store in my 20's and the halva bars were one of my favorite treats. So good! I see the comment below so I am probably responding from the last giveaway, but I don't have the new questions, so hopefully you can still enter me to win!! Thank you so much!
Hi Amy, no worries, that is my fault! I will enter you to win anyway, and if you'd like to engage in this part of the conversation (this helps me get to know all of YOU better), here are the questions for this giveaway.
Have you ever baked using dates as the sweetener?
What are your favorite nutrient-dense, low-sugar sweets or treats?
How would winning this book change how you eat at home?
Thank you so much, Sarah!
I have not baked with dates before, but I have used them in a cashew/maca hot wintertime drink. YUM!
My favorite nutrient dense treat is a hazelnut (made with hazelnut flour) chocolate chip cookie - I use ghee and maple syrup to sweeten.
I eat pretty clean as it is, but would love to have more variety and options in combinations and recipes.
oh gosh, the many meals i had at Angelica's Kitchen . . . and still dream about the tempeh reuben. brownies sound delish.
Oh yes you are reminding me--I think I had my first taste of tempeh at Angelicas!! Amy is such a gifted chef and teacher, and these brownies do not dissapoint (a batch in the oven right now for yet another school thing this afternoon). x
Not sure if this actually counts as a treat, but several years ago I came an online recipe for making small-batch jams with drastically reduced amounts of sugar. Many older jam recipes contain equal or even higher amounts of sugar to fruit! That always seemed wrong to me, so I was happy to come across the recipe I now use. Think the ratio is something like a quart of fresh fruit to 1/2-3/4 cup sugar. Once made, I like to use the jam to sweeten plain yogurt.
This is exactly how I make jams, Aimee, an evolution based on the same thought (jam is great, but is that much sugar necessary?)! It's how most Hungarians (like my mother-in-law) make lekvar or preserves, fruit-forward, and the sugar behind the scenes. You taste big, luscious pieces of preserved fruit, and not a saccharine mouthfeel or aftertaste. My husband/kids like to eat lekvar and preserves by the spoonful, and also over plain yogurt for breakfast, and sometimes dessert. It's the best treat.
yes i’ve baked with dates and date sugar and eat dates every day. the cookbook looks divine
I’ve baked with dates🌴❤️ as a sweetener in cookies, energy bars, and homemade Twix bars (thanks
to recipes by Anna Jones, Sarah Britton, and minimalist baker). They are remarkably easy to use and add a sweetness that isn’t cloying to baked goods, no bake treats, and yummy beverages like almond milk, smoothies, and some sauces/salad dressings.
I've had a healthy-ish homemade Twix bar bookmarked to make for months and months--I think it's that very one! Ooh, and a tahini date shake! A classic Moroccan date shake is a profound taste memory from a dinner I attended with a dear friend and his family during Ramadan 20 years ago! I still think about it. 🤍
Love dates! I make date chocolate bark all the time! Just cut and press dates together then spread almond butter over it, then pour melted chocolate over that and top with almond slivers and sea salt. Freeze and then break into pieces. I keep it in the freezer. So good! 😊
It is viral for a reason! So utterly delicious and easy. ❤️
Totally. Yeah guess I am staying the obvious with this one 😂
I have used dates as a sweetener only in unbaked goods, but I’m eager to try the almond butter brownies and more recipes using dates or other dried fruits instead of refined sugar. I was pleased with some granola bars I made a while back from a recipe in LA pastry chef Nicole Rucker’s first cookbook, “Dappled.” In addition to dates and raisins, the recipe also called for honey, rice syrup, oats and several types of nuts.
Dates are the perfect sweetener/binder in granola bars. I use them in mine too! I'm so glad they've become so accessible and its a joy to read all the wonderful things you are all making!
No, I have not yet tried dates as a sweetener, but I am definitely going to try!
❤️
These look delightful! I have two treats that are nutrient dense that my kids love- one is a chickpea muffin, and the other is a black bean brownie. They actually eat the brownie batter right out of the blender (it’s vegan too). I love the idea of treats that love them back ☺️
Rachel, I’m excited to share that you won! Please check your DMs (in Substack) or your email for details. Thank you for entering, and thank you for being a reader and supporter of my work!
Your lucky kids, having a parent who knows how to teach them that indulgences can also nourish us! Black beans hide so easily in brownies it still amazes me.
AHHHmazing! Thank you so much! This is so cool 🤣.
i’ve used dates to add sweetness to savory dishes, but haven’t tried baking with them as a sweetener before!
I've never baked with dates.
I have baked with pure raw honey from my dad's apiary--does that count?
yes!! amazing what a gift!!
I’ve made a date cake before and recently came across the cookbook Hot Date which includes a lot of savory date recipes that I want to try!
Hot date is such a fun and clever title. I've been hearing good things about it!
This book seems wonderful -- I'm always looking for ways to make healthy meals without sacrificing taste or the joy of cooking and eating, especially now as I consider wanting to bring family and friends healthier foods or baked goods they can enjoy that won't add to any health concerns/conditions they have.
Emily, I’m excited to share that you won! Please check your DMs (in Substack) or your email for details. Thank you for entering, and thank you for being a reader and supporter of my work!
Thank you!! I am so excited to use this book!
I'm with you, it feels important and special to be able to care for the people we love with treats that won't harm them or make their conditions worse. It's such an act of love to take the time to learn how.
This is one of my favorite books!!! I loved eating at Angelica Kitchen and it reminds me of my time as a young cook living in NYC ❤️
Same Carla! ❤️