"dates" news and stories

Sell by, best by, and use by are all labels that we commonly see on foods in the grocery store. They are on just about anything that is packaged, from milk and bagged produce to cookies and soda. Is there really a difference between the terms, and if so, what is it?

BusinessWeek actually has some of the answers for us. A "sell by" date is one that indicates to a store how long the product should be offered for sale, although such a product will almost always be good for at least a few days beyond that date. A "best by" date means that the flavor or texture of a food will begin to decline at that point. The "use by" date is the real expiration date. Beyond it, there is no guarantee that the food will be fresh and tasty or that it will retain all of the nutrients that it started out with. The overall quality of the product can begin to decrease and you're probably better of just starting again with a fresh bottle/can/bag.

The best strategy is to buy foods in small batches so you don't have to worry about expiration dates of any sort coming on too quickly, but keep the dates in mind as you shop for reference points, and choose products with further dates if you know you're not going to be consuming everything you buy in a short period of time.

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Pizza?!?! He's taking you out to grab a slice of pizza?!?! Forget it. What kind of cheapskate/Peter Pan/unimaginative guy is he!??! Drop him!

Don't pretend like you haven't done it before -- judged a guy (or girl) before you've even met, based on where they want to go on the first date. Fancy expensive reservations-30-days-in-advance-only and you're impressed, right? KFC drive-thru and...well, you get the picture.

Though they don't have an opinion about pizza, AOL has put together a short feature about what his restaurant/cuisine choice could say about him. If you don't have the time to read through it, here's the lowdown:

• Tapas - "don't expect a commitment from this professional dabbler anytime soon"
• Seafood - "it's nice to spend time with somebody who believes money is no object, but if he never lets you forget it..."
• Pancake house - "a guy who knows what he wants, and exactly where to go to get it"
• Sushi - "an eclectic lifestyle, so he wants to try everything"
• Mexican - "hot and spicy guy is the kind that will dance the night away"
• Chinese - "he needs a little motivation"
• Steakhouse - "since he won't stray too far from the norm, he could be a huge bore"
• Italian - "you've got a serious romantic on your hands"
• Burgers and fries - "likes it straight, so he can save himself for the BMX race he's in"

Ever since we realized how easy these bacon-wrapped dates are to make, they've been a picnic staple. Sarah Gim has had other versions at restaurants in L.A., but there's really no reason not to make them at home. As with any recipe with very few ingredients, it's crucial to not skimp. Get moist, plump dates with no cracks in the skin and pit them yourself by making a small slit with a paring knife. I'm fond of medjool dates, and they're widely available and usually a pretty decent size. As for bacon, just try to avoid anything sliced too thickly, as it will be more difficult to wrap around the dates. For the version you see above, each date was wrapped in half a slice of bacon and baked in a foil lined sheet pan at 350º for about 15 minutes, or until the bacon rendered much of its fat and began to crisp up. By that time the dates will have softened into a sugary paste, perfectly suited to the salty crunch of the bacon. Sometimes toothpicks are necessary to hold the bacon in place. They make serving these gems easier on a picnic, too. As for stuffing them, I didn't. But you can. Slivers of garlic work great, as do almonds, or Parmesan cheese, says Sarah.

We're all familiar with dates - the dark brown, sticky sweet oblong fruit grown in Mediterranean climates that are often used in desserts. In Asia, there are something called red dates. These fruits, also kown as jujubes (in Korean, "dae-chu"), are somewhat rounder than the regular dates we're used to, not as sticky nor as sweet, and obviously, they are a brownish red.

The red date has medicinal value in Asian culture. Along with ginseng, Koreans add dae-chu to sahm-gyae tahng, which is a healthy, nourshing soup. Sometimes, red dates are considered an herb, believed to prolong, enhance, and harmonize the effect of other ingredients in medicinal formulas. Supposedly, red dates are a good cure for insomnia, work against the effects of aging, and help with fatigue, hypertension and malnutrition.

Lara Bars are blends of fruits, spices and nuts that make up a line of tasty, wholesome snack bars. Though they don't have any preservatives, nor are the cooked, their special packaging keeps these moist and chewy bars fresh for several months - and perfect for a snack on the go or a quick meal when you're traveling. My favorite flavors are Apple Pie and Cocoa Mole. Of course, if you can't get to the store, you can always make your own, just like Rae of bunnyfoot. She took dates and a few add-ins of her own to make an amazing homemade lara-type bar. I love the adaptability of her recipe, since you can add any nuts, spices or additional fruits that you like!

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