Hell no ! Not that date :p …where is your mind ?? And no those are not truffles … but something even better and healthier. I’m talking about the fruit – date !
Breaking the fast with dates is a Ramadan tradition. After fasting from dawn to dusk, which is roughly a bit more than 13 hours, a date is the most perfect fruit to start with. One of the many physical benefits of breaking the fast with dates is that our body benefits from the date’s high level of natural sugars. Sugars travel most quickly to the liver, where they are converted into energy more quickly than any other nutrient. A sudden bombardment with food could be a shock to the empty stomach after a day of fasting. Eating a date first helps the body start its digestive process and gives it the energy to deal with the secondary, more complex foods, eaten during Iftar.
Dates are also high in vitamins A and B6, folic acid, potassium, natural sodium, iron, and magnesium. Thus, eating dates daily during Ramadan is like taking a daily multivitamin. This daily multivitamin can create a stronger and healthier body, one more fit for fasting. Dates also contain large amounts of dietary fiber, which can prevent any constipation that might result from eating the traditionally rich foods served during Ramadan. Additionally, dates protect the stomach and intestinal tract from parasites and bacteria, and thus is a good preventative medicine. Dates also have a special place in Islam. In fact, they were one of the Prophet’s (SAW) most frequently consumed foods. For this reason, their benefit is most likely spiritual as well as physical.
You can have them just the way they are, or you can also get creative with them. By now i think i might have developed the reputation of a lazy cook, as most of my recipes are effortless. So be it … lets add one more to the collection 
All you have to do is de-seed about 1/2 kg of dried dates. Cut them up in small pieces and then mash them up forming a paste. Knead it just like you would knead dough to get a uniform and smooth texture. Keep a bowl of water ready, as you may need to dip your hands every time they get sticky. Make small balls and roll into desired topping. I’ve used desiccated coconut, sesame seeds, colourful sprinkles … go for whatever is in your cupboard. Put them in little paper cups. Get your kids to help you out, they would love to make these. They make perfect gifts, for Eid, Christmas … any occasion at all !
Last Ramadan i made these lovely Date n Nut Rolls
Am linking this to Kitchen Flavours, for The Joy of Feasting and Fasting.
wow… luscious photos!!!
They are ever so pretty and your pictures are truely beautiful!
Cheers,
Rosa
Beautiful — and they really do look like truffles, or candies. I think I’ll make these for dessert for a dinner party.
I did not know that about Ramadan! Thanks for the info! The box and your decorated dates are beautiful!! Great photos too
a date with these? any day! they look incredible!
From the looks of them, I never would have guessed they were so easy to make. They look excellent and as a fellow date lover, I’ll have to try this out!
Great ideas for the dates Kate…I love your presentation as well. Ramadan is truly a fascinating time for Muslims…i love all the traditions behind it…
I want them right now. Ummmm Yummmmmy. Wish i could pick it from the monitor and eat it right away. Tempting decorative box perfect for return gifts during Ramadan. Thank u for the entry and lick back dear.
Aran , thnx
Rosa, thanks, i’m sure yours taste much better
Lydia, at the first look they do, but when you bite into them you’re in for a surprise
Manggy, glad to give it to you
Meeta, haha …you’re on then
Mike, hang around here n you’l always find easy recipes …what can i’m say i’m a bit lazy
Peter … Its a magical month for us, and there are so many traditions to it, i learn a few more every year !
KF , haha ..wait till iftar, before you do
I’ve heard they’re also the only fruit that’s all sugar and no acid, though there’s a new apricot variety making similar claims.
http://www.teaandfood.blogspot.com
My boyfriend turned me onto dates – I will have to make these for him! What you’ve done to them is beautiful and the box is gorgeous!
great inspiration. never would have thought of using dates like this. and gorgeous photos
I wrote that comment after Iftar only dear. By the way nice info on dates.
Aaron, i did not know that . wow thats kewl !
Anita, n i’m sure he’ll take you out on another date then :p, thnx
Andreea, thanks so much, and a bigger thanks for the award !!
Hi, How are you doing? Me dropped in after long to see these lovely and delicious pics. I remember the date nut roll you made last Ramadan. Hats off to your creativity!!
What a brilliant idea and that box truly makes them an even more precious gift!
I didn’t know all of that information about dates, so this was very informative for me! And how gorgeous are these!
Sharmi, thanks for coming by
.. the year has passed by pretty quickly huh !
Helen, i know i got this box when i was in India, n saved it for months till i found the right thing to use it for
Patience 
Deborah … always nice to share
Thnx .
Lazy Cook? Not even close! I am a big fan of easy to make recipes that are not difficult or impossible for the average cook to make. I went to culinary school in Europe but most of my readers did not so why trouble them or stress them out by showing them recipes that they will have a hard time re-creating! I absolutely love your stuff!
Oh ya…this is a date I wouldn't say no to…even yes to more than 1…the dates gotta be willing though. Very pretty KK. I love the simplicity of the recipe & the beauty of your presentation. Looks like you've really enjoyed this one. Nice…cheers Deeba
Avesta, lazy but efficient
I cant be bothered for complicated stuff, unless it a big special day or occasion. Everyday stuff has got to be simple.
Deeba, haha ..KK , i like that
I did have making n eating these
They are beautiful! I will definitely be trying these
Thanks!
Stunning. So easy too.
I would smile from ear to ear if I received such beautiful gift!
They look precious, Kate, and the box accentuates that.
A date with a date is welcome anytime.
What can I say- I grew up in Dubai so I totally understand your post. We eat dates every day and it makes a perfect snack for the kiddos on the way back from school. I always have a container lying in the car…
The treats looks beautiful, the pics are lovely.
maybelles mom, its too easy !
Patricia, the box really does enhance the date truffles.
Bharti, i grew up eating dates as well. haha just like you my dad used to fill my pockets with date so i could eat them on the way to school.
these look like date jewels–I love dates and will make these–your presentation is gorgeous!
Kate, those date rolls and beautifully decorated balls look so gorgeous and tempting. You are very creative gal! Great work!
yes! when can i come over
you know i love dates! excellent shots…nice work!
Melanie, precious edible jewels
Mona, thanks you !
Mohini, anytime , my doors are always open
Kate, everything about these dates are gorgeous (from the box to the actual bites)! The rolls you made last Ramadan look really good because I love everything with pistachios : )
????? ?????????? ???
What a beautiful presentation. You are an artist.
Wow, can I print and frame some of those shots? A date never looked so attractive…and I’m happily married!
Hey Kate,
there is some magic in your hand. You made this simple thing so beautiful. Nice gift idea… thanks for sharing. Love your blog.
Thanks,
Gowri
Tony .., i adore dates, and am discoverin new ways of using them. I love pistachios too :p .. n i get only the last word, helou … whazz the rest of it
tell me quick as now i’m dying to know !!!
glamah16 , *taking a bow down * thank you !
Aimee … haha happily married women like these kinda dates
Gowri, thanks so much for your lovely comment.
Kate ,Those look delish! You have such wonderful presentation ideas.
No wonder it was the Sunnah of the Prophet(pbuh) to break fast with dates, they are packed with nutrients.
This is beautiful Mashallah! This is all I need to break my Fast. I love your blog and would love to pass on the “Love award” to you. Please claim it from my site.
http://giddygastronome.blogspot.com/2008/09/award-that-is-epitome-of-warm-bowl-of.html
De-seeding 1/2 kg of dates doesn’t sound lazy at all! Amazing photos, as usual!
For dates, I don’t care if there are healthy, have the right nutrients or not. The taste is good enough reason to like them.
These look stunning! And I absolutely love the box. It would make a fabulous gift…for me
ha i just made some date sweets like these too . but i added some crushed hazelnuts and cinnamon. and covered them in chocolate . they were delicious. Thanks for this easy recipe. they look gorgeous
These are gorgeous, I love dates and they are so pretty too! I love the idea of mashing them up first.
Just beautiful
Yasmeen, thanks, Most of the things our prophet (SAW) did, there was a good enough reason behind it. He was enlightened !
Nazarina, shukr allahmdullilah
Its quite easy, why dont you make some. I’ve been breaking my fast everyday with them :p And thank you so much for the award …now i feel really loved
Shari, actually come to thing of it … its was’nt easy ..lol
Shantanu, hehe … i know exactly how you feel
)
Anna, im sure it would
Snooky Doodle …oh how wonderful, hazelnuts n cinnamon n chocolate sound heavenly !
Helen , yeah, mashing ‘em up makes a better texture.
Maryann … thanks
oh man, those look sooo good, but I am loving that box even more, simply gorgeous!
Kate these look amazing, would try them soon. Thanx for sharing this recipe in time for Ramadan!
Kate, these are just stunning. I think that knowing how to turn the every day things into real gems is fabulous. You have turned these dates in something really special. I love every little one.
YES!!!
Oh..err.. it’s that kind of date. Ouch..Umm. Delicious as well! hehe
I haven’t been around here in ages, will you forgive me pleeaase? I was overwhelmed with work for most of the summer. I missed this place. Always nice and pretty.. and yummy!
Oh my gosh…those are gorgeous! and good for you too! I love your pics!
Kate, I seriously thought you bought them! They look amazing that way. I would never have thought of that myself. But then again, im not creative. lol.
Thanks for the brilliant idea.
Farina