Melissas Produce

Frozen Grapes Dipped in Date Caramel Sauce

Children in this country consume an estimated 12 percent of their calories from fast food and 20 percent of all American meals are eaten in the car! The consequences are predictably unhealthy. Competing schedules in the day-to-day lives of a busy modern family make it difficult to share a home-cooked meal together, but not impossible. In fact, with a little planning, cooking together can become a fun family event and learning opportunity. This feature will focus on providing a child or a group of children, working together under the supervision of an adult, with one uncomplicated, healthy and delicious side dish recipe. The dishes will be centered on seasonal fresh produce items; the recipes will always contain tasks will allow even the youngest kitchen helper to contribute to the family meal. Parents should always read through each recipe carefully to judge the division of labor based on age and ability as well as to identify where adult attention might be especially needed.

Many of the recipes presented here will seem very basic, this is by design. It is hoped that these simple preparations will provide the culinary foundation and confidence to inspire kids to try more challenging recipes as their experience and confidence in the kitchen develops. Melissa’s encourages parents to find the time to gather as a family unit at least once a week for a dinner that everyone pitches in to prepare. It’s a wonderful way to teach a child some basic culinary skills and, more importantly, cooking with your children will build memories in all your hearts forever. Enjoy your kids in the kitchen, they will be grown & gone before you know it! “No one is born a great cook; one learns by doing” – Julia Child.

Sticky red candied apples were always a number one childhood favorite, with caramel apples coming in a close second. All that sugar in the guise of a fresh apple – what a great rationalization for these very decadent treats. Do not misunderstand, there should be many special occasions for candied and caramel apples in everyone’s childhood; Melissa’s even offers two flavors of Caramel Apples during the holiday season. However, it’s August, and candied anything will not hold up in the seasonal heat and should only be enjoyed in moderation anyway. Instead, here’s a seasonally appropriate, healthy fruit snack recipe that captures the fun of a caramel apple in miniature using frozen grapes, dipped in a creamy date sauce, then rolled in crushed pine nuts.

The date dipping sauce is the star of this recipe, boasting a deeply rich, natural caramel flavor of its own that comes with dense fiber to offset its concentrated sugar content, thereby having no effect on metabolism. Plus, I don’t know of a caramel candy that is a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, and vitamin B6. Dates also offer a healthier alternative to refined sugar, thanks to their natural sweetness and nutrient-rich content. Current research suggests that there may be potential benefits of dates for bone and brain health, although more study is needed to confirm these effects.

This recipe takes a little planning ahead, but it is well worth it. That is, freeze grapes overnight. On the day of prep, even the youngest sous chef can be tasked with jabbing each grape with a toothpick, then passing it on to an older child to dip, then roll the fruit in nuts. The hardest stage of this recipe comes next - placing these finished pieces of goodness on a serving plate for the whole family to enjoy, rather than directly into a hungry mouth at the end of this assembly line.

Be aware that this recipe has a reputation for ending up with a bunch of empty toothpicks on a serving tray before it's ever served. However, on the off chance that there are any leftovers, they can be stored in the freezer for six months. However, stashes of these tasty little morsels have been known to mysteriously disappear overnight if left unguarded!

Frozen Grapes Dipped in Date Caramel Sauce

Ingredients
1 lb. Red or Green Muscatos™ grapes, frozen overnight
2 cups Medjool Dates, pitted
1/4 cup Vegetable spread (option: favorite nut butter)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice,
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pine Nuts, crushed

What the supervising adult should do:
After being pitted by a helper, oversee the boiling of the water to soften the dates. Crushing of the pine nuts can be done by a small “stick” mixer or manually; the goal is a medium fine texture with no large pieces, suitable for rolling each grape.

What the kids can do:

Soak pitted dates in pot of boiled water for 10 min, then combine in a blender or food processor with vegetable spread, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, tsp vanilla. Blend thoroughly, then transfer to a bowl for dipping.