{"id":1225,"date":"2014-12-01T23:58:35","date_gmt":"2014-12-01T23:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thecherryplumkitchen.com\/?p=1225"},"modified":"2014-12-02T00:24:24","modified_gmt":"2014-12-02T00:24:24","slug":"date-orange-and-hazelnut-squares","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecherryplumkitchen.com\/?p=1225","title":{"rendered":"Date, Apple, Orange and Hazelnut Squares"},"content":{"rendered":"
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My endless quest for lunch-box sweet things has led me often in the direction of Date Squares in several incarnations because they taste delicious, can cope in varying temperatures and transport well. \u00a0Not only that – they keep for a few days in an airtight box and, if that’s not long enough, freeze beautifully.<\/p>\n

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I make them year-round but they do ‘feel’ autumnal.<\/p>\n

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Storecupboard good things, including that last tired apple in the fruit bowl.<\/p>\n

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I start with the date-y mix as that needs to cool. \u00a0First the dates, chopped smallish.<\/p>\n

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The zest of one orange.<\/p>\n

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It irritates me when a recipe asks for the zest and leaves me with the juice. \u00a0A warm orange will give more juice than a cold one. \u00a0Cut the orange in half on a slight diagonal to make it easier to squeeze.<\/p>\n

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I add water to the juice.<\/p>\n

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An old fashioned box grater is the perfect tool for this. \u00a0Peel and core an apple and coarsely grate.<\/p>\n

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Into a saucepan.<\/p>\n

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Cook, uncovered, on a low-medium heat.<\/p>\n

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Ten minutes later, the liquid has evaporated and it looks like this. \u00a0Set it aside to cool.<\/p>\n

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I really like to add nuts to my topping. \u00a0Half a packet seems about right. \u00a0Hazelnuts here, but I might have used walnuts just as easily. Cobnuts are fun, when they’re in season. \u00a0I buy mine with skins on. \u00a0Toast for about 10 minutes. \u00a0You’ll need to keep an eye on them as burnt nuts taste bitter.<\/p>\n

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Rub them in a clean tea towel and the skins come off. \u00a0Mostly. \u00a0I really don’t worry about what is left.<\/p>\n

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Then chop.<\/p>\n

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Plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, light brown sugar\/light muscovado and rolled porridge oats.<\/p>\n

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Rub in the butter until it forms clumps.<\/p>\n

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It’s not a breadcrumb texture.<\/p>\n

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Put half into the prepared 20cm\/8″ square tin.<\/p>\n

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Flatten out.<\/p>\n

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Spread out the date mixture.<\/p>\n

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Add the nuts to the remaining ‘half’ and place that on top of the date mixture.<\/p>\n

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40 minutes later it looks like this. \u00a0Allow it to cool in the tin.<\/p>\n

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Then cut into squares.<\/p>\n

Eat.<\/p>\n

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\"Date<\/a>Date, Apple, Orange and Hazelnut Squares<\/strong> – Makes 12<\/em><\/p>\n