Date crystals and Barhi Dates from Shields Date Gardens

9 years ago

We tried to go to Oasis Date Gardens in Thermal when we were passing through between Indio and Anza Borrego, but they were not open when we were there, and so I bought dates at Shields instead, where we also had breakfast and dinner our last night in Indio. At Shields, I bought a 1# assortment of dates and 1# of Medjool dates, because I was familiar with them. However, from the assortment of dates, I learned that I very much prefer Barhi dates, and so I tried to order some from Oasis (cheaper than Shields), but they were sold out, and so I ordered a 3# box from Shields. Since I was already paying shipping, I decided to order a 3# box of date crystals (Oasis does not have this), and so now I am having to decide how to use them. Shields uses date crystals to make their date shakes, and so I will do that, but I thought perhaps others of you may have other ideas as well. Shields also included a few of their own recipes.

Here's how Shields Restaurant looked at dinner:

and here's how the store looked in the morning:

As a side note, here is a photo of where we had our lunch in Anza Borrego:

We sat at a table at the end of this portico at the Butterfield Ranch Park and bought our drinks there, along with a couple of other supplies. We had chicken salad wrapped in lavash for our lunch with ginger ale.

A few days after the trip (Wednesday night) I came down with a terrible stomach virus that is going around, and I've been under the weather for the past six days. I had a fever of 102.6° on Thursday morning and had Kevin leave work to take me to the doctor, as I was very weak and extremely dehydrated. At first I thought it was food poisoning, perhaps from the chicken salad, but the doctor told me that the symptoms from food poisoning always appear within a few hours of eating the food, and so that was ruled out, especially since Kevin did not get sick. The doctor put me on the BRAT diet, and so Kevin got me some bananas, and I started making banana-date smoothies that are now a new favorite! To make them, I used one sliced banana, three chopped Medjool dates, 1 cup crushed ice, and 1/4 cup water, and I blended then in the Vitamix. I think now that I can make banana smoothies with date crystals, but the package says to make a frozen date paste before using the crystals in shakes, and so I guess I will have to make a batch of that.

Any other favorite date crystal recipes? I don't need recipes for dates, as I love eating them by themselves, but they were good in the banana smoothies, and so I might use them for something else as well.

The Barhi dates are softer and sweeter than Medjool dates, BTW.

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Comments (5)

KatieC
9 years ago
"Somewhere" I have some recipes from Shields. I'll see if I can find them this weekend. I know there were recipes using the crystals. I have a bag that I need to play with also.

My sis lives very close to there and when I was down there I had some really good huevos rancheros and a date shake for breakfast. She sends us dates for Christmas. I can get dates from Indio at Costco, but they just aren't as good.
Lars thanked KatieC
annie1992
9 years ago
It looks lovely, Lars. I tried to get a date shake when I visited in California, but couldn't find one. Maybe I'll have to make my own...

Here it's snowing, so that picture of you eating outside made me smile.

Annie
Lars thanked annie1992
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Lars
Original Author
9 years ago
There's not much to a date shake, and I think my banana version was better than what I got at Shields - theirs was a bit too sweet.

I did mix some date crystals with water and put the mixture in the freezer, as the instructions said, but the crystals were not completely dissolved. I guess that is not important. A normal date shake is made with ice cream, milk, and date crystals (or dates), and I don't think it is important how you do it. I did love the date shake I had at Shields, even though it was very sweet.

It is easy enough to order fresh dates on line, if you cannot find them where you live, and the prices as Oasis are pretty good. For them, the Barhi dates are seasonal, and so I'll get some from them next season.
Lars
Original Author
9 years ago
I tried following the recipe for using the date crystals, but it said to mix 1/4 cup water with 1/4 cup date crystals, mix thoroughly by hand and freeze. I did that, although I doubled the amount, and when I wanted to make a date shake (using banana instead of milk and ice cream), the date crystal mixture was frozen solid, and so I had to let it defrost in the fridge. Then I proceeded to make the banana-date smoothie using crystals instead of dates, and it came out very good. Next time I will skip the step of freezing the crystal mixture and just leave the mixture in the fridge overnight. I think it does take a while for the crystals to dissolve thoroughly.
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Lars/J. Robert Scott
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Saturday I made steel cut oats with some of the date crystals. It's an extremely simple recipe: 1/2 cup oats, 1/4 cup date crystals, 2 cups water, 1-2 Tbsp butter, plus a pinch of salt (optional). Mix everything together in a saucepan, put on medium heat and bring to a low boil while stirring occasionally. Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes. I found that this had enough flavor that the oats did not need cinnamon, and I normally do add cinnamon to my oats, but the date flavor is enough in this case.

Anyway, if you have leftover date crystals, this is a good use for them.

I'm going to buy my dates from farmers' markets in the future - they were half the price that Shields charges, and I don't have to go to Indio to get them.

Date crystals and Barhi Dates from Shields Date Gardens

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KatieC

annie1992

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Date crystals and Barhi Dates from Shields Date Gardens

Comments (5)

KatieC

annie1992

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