Make your own natural sweetener without refined sugar.
2 cups pitted dried dates
2 cups water or unsweetened apple-juice
1 tbsp lemon juice
Combine ingredients in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until boiling. Turn heat to low and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth, adding more water if necessary to reach desired consistency. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
I love this stuff on cinnamon raisin bread (as pictured), and also on plain toast, yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, combined with a little cocoa powder to make chocolate sauce, and as a substitute for sugar in baking, the same way you would use honey or maple syrup. It’s very versatile and easy to make, so give it a try!
My kids like to whine, especially when it comes to the food they eat, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to make tasty and healthy meals for them. Follow along as I share family-friendly recipes and reviews from my picky family members, who I lovingly call “The Whine Critics.” 
