Although we enjoy dates as they are, there are times when I whizz some in a food processor along with other ingredients and make energy date bites. Great for snacking on and perfect for those in the household into sports and heavy training sessions that need fuel on the go. Keeping the ingredients on the healthier side, these naturally sweet date bites include chia seeds ,oatmeal, almond butter and pistachio nuts. These little morsels of goodness would also make great homemade gifts for athletes that you know. But for me… I will enjoy mine with an espresso or arabic coffee.
And on the subject of dates… here we have Bu Abdulla skillfully hand pollinating our date palms and preparing them for the season ahead. Also, love to capture moments that are not an everyday occurrence. Hand pollination ensures a better crop and quality of date. Roll on date season.
Pulling the female flowers from the spathe on a date palm.
Placing pollen collected from the male flowers into a cloth.
Tying the female flowers along with some flowers taken from the male palm tree, you can see the different shape of flower (male) on top right of photo.
A dusting of pollen over the female flowers.
Bu Abdulla pollination a date palm.
Energy Date Bites
(makes 22 to 24)
Ingredients:
225g soft pitted dates
50g pistachio nuts
2 teaspoon chia seeds
1 and 1/2 tablespoons rolled oats (not instant)
2 tablespoons almond butter
2 teaspoons of coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to make:
Place all the ingredients into the food processor and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and combined. The mixture will look crumbly. Place the mixture into a bowl. Using your hands, take even bits size amounts, forming and rolling into balls. Place the balls on a tray and refrigerates until firm. Remove to a container and store in the refirgrateore for up to one week.
Food and Tools 
Wow, how interesting. I confess to knowing little about the way dates are cultivated other than they grow on a palm. I’m sure they are much much better than any fresh date that I have ever tasted. We chanced upon a date farm in the Aussie outback many years ago. They made the most incredible liqueur with some of their crop. It tasted like sticky date pudding with caramel sauce in a glass. I’ll be trying out your energy bites too Moya.
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A liqueur that tastes like sticky date pudding and caramel sauce sound so good Sandra 🙂
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Great post, very interesting.
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Thank you and glad to know you enjoyed the post 🙂
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Another interesting bit of our island I’d never have known without reading your blog……thanks!
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Thanks Debbie, I always look forward to the beginning of the date season 🙂
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Wow that is interesting ,Moya. No date palms here. We get a lot of Iranian dates here Nice bites Btw.
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I am sure the dates from Iran are delicious too Glenda and would be perfect for the recipe above 🙂
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I’ve been looking for a good energy bar recipe for some time so will give it a try. Where will I get almond butter in Bahrain?
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You can find almond butter in most of the bigger supermarkets, usually in the health section. I got mine in Alosra supermarket and the brand is Biona. Thanks for stopping by Janeann and hope you give the date bites a try 🙂
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