Date Syrup

Serves 12. Serving Size 1 tablespoon.

INGREDIENTS:
2-1/4 cups water
1-1/2 cups pitted Deglet Noor dates

DIRECTIONS:

• In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Meanwhile, chop dates into small pieces of uniform size and place in a large bowl. Once water is boiling, pour it over the chopped dates and let soak for 30 minutes.

• Using an immersion blender or high-speed blender, blend dates and water until smooth. Use a nut milk bag or muslin cloth over a fine mesh strainer on top of a large bowl to squeeze out liquid from the date solids, which should yield about 2 cups of thin liquid.

• Transfer the liquid to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer and cook 30 minutes or until thicken to a desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat and let cool before transferring to a clean glass jar or other storage container.

*Adapted from Leanne Ray