Happy Valentine's Day!

Sending many hearts to all you lovebirds out there (that includes you single pringles too, of course)! Valentine's Day always seems to be one of those occasions that are either embraced with all shades of reds and pinks that you can imagine OR, detested with all the inner annoyance and disgust that one could possibly muster (that is, if you don't have a special cuddle buddy to spend it with). I suppose men who aren't particularly keen on buying into this commercialized holiday might share that latter sentiment as well.

In any case! Out of curiosity, I looked up the history of this day and it actually traces to way back in the 1400s when the Roman priest/physician, St. Valentine, was beheaded by emperor Claudius II for helping Christian couples wed during the time when Christians were widely persecuted in Rome. It's also said that St. Valentine refused to deny Christ before the emperor, which led to his martyrdom as a result. There's some amount of Roman tradition mixed in there too, but for the most part, February 14th was set as a day in memory of this saint. 

Well that's nice to know a bit of the back story behind this day that's generally associated with dozens of roses, boxes of chocolate hearts, and other random things that gals and guys gift each other. Who knew that a saint's death from 600 years ago would eventually somehow turn into this kind of holiday for us today?

Anyway, that's enough background information, on with the highlight of this post! This year, I didn't want flowers, chocolates, or anything of the kind. I asked for one thing and one thing only, and the bf really outdid himself (much to my pleasant surprise): DATES! 

He knows me so well... thanks bf 💗

Now we're not talking about the dinner-and-a-movie kind of dates, but the dates that are basically like nature's candy from date palm trees. It's not processed in any way and has just the right amount of sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth! It's also a great source of different vitamins (A, K, riboflavin, thiamin, folate), minerals (calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and zinc to name a few), and fiber. 

What dates are good for: broad range from aiding digestion, reducing risk of heart disease, anemia, bone health and strength, energy booster, sexual wellness, diarrhea, and relief from constipation. Talk about a well-rounded and nutritious treat!

These natural goodies come in different kinds, but the ones that we usually see in grocery stores and have available to us are the Medjool and Deglet Noor (there is a difference in firmness, texture, and sweetness with each type of dates).

Not only is it a great snack by itself (mmmm the ooey gooey sweet nuggets), but dates are also great sweeteners that can be used in a variety of ways-- stuff them with nuts for a heartier snack, blend them into smoothies, make them into date chutney or date syrup, add them into fruit salads, and dates are often used to make caramel too! (Store-bought caramel is usually not vegan because they have butter and milk products in them, always check the ingredients).

If you're not sharing my enthusiasm for the pizzazz of dates just yet, check out this list of things you can do with them, Buzzfeed to the rescue: 

https://www.buzzfeed.com/ahmedaliakbar/date-recipes-for-eid?utm_term=.awqkggg92#.omvNYYYal

To speak a little bit about what we have up there, the bf got me a bag of organic dates from Date Lady, and boy, does this lady have quite the line of date products (see link to website). Everything from these plain dried gems, to bottles of date syrup, caramel sauce, and balsamic vinegar, chocolate spread, date sugar, and caramel sticks (great candy alternative)! These products are on the pricier end, and you can certainly make all of these things at home for much cheaper. *hint: all you need are dates* A little bit of time and patience can take you a long way (both for your wallet and for your health).

Then, as if that wasn't enough, the bf spoiled me with a 1 lb. box of dates, dried Turkish apricots, pears, and Angelino plums 😍💖 I would take these over a box of nauseating milk chocolates any day! 

If you want to know why, here is this video that does a good job of backtracking the process of how milk chocolates are made:

Milk Chocolate In Reverse

...because guess what's in them? Milk. The milk that comes from dairy cows that suffer in stalls that don't allow them any movement, with their infected udders that expand way beyond their normal size and leak with pus, blood, and even their own feces that they end up sitting in because of such limited space that they're given. These dairy cows are the products of artificial insemination (which is basically rape, no matter how you try to justify it), and regardless of their health condition, they are whipped, beaten, shot with injections of antibiotics, and abused in ways that we could not imagine. Not too long upon birth, the baby calves are ripped away from their mothers to either serve as veal meat (boys) or be taken away to be raised as yet another dairy cow (girls). How ironic is it that on a day that celebrates love, millions of these milk chocolates are sold all across our country, and so many of these poor cows suffer the consequences to meet the demands. Let alone love and care, these guys don't even have fitting living quarters, or the proper means of socialization that they are meant to have...

We, as consumers, are so far removed from this production process, and people like the undercover investigators from the Mercy for Animals (MFA) organization put so much of themselves at risk-- mentally, emotionally, physically-- to reveal these horrible truths within factory farms. They also work hard in the areas of legal advocacy, corporate outreach, and education for the public. This isn't just a silly "let's save the animals" approach, and all that we ask for is humane treatment, because really: no living being should ever be treated this way. Also, I find it quite repulsive and gross that so many people enjoy eating food that comes from this kind of industry. You like enjoying that piece of chocolate, that block of cheese with your wine, or that glass of milk that the USDA claims to be good for you? Might want to think again and reevaluate where these dairy products are sourced from.

Not to end on such a negative note... but this is just to say that I feel very passionately for this area and it is one of many reasons why I went vegan. As you can see, there are so many other natural treats out there that are not only good for just you, but also for the environment in the long run, and I also like to think that as one more person joins the plant-based movement, the crowd grows bigger, the voice becomes louder, and the demand for non-meat/non-dairy alternatives becomes greater. Such a presence cannot be ignored and it continues to pique curiosity among even those who do not care for the cause initially. 

All that aside, can't wait to enjoy these sweet treats! All in moderation of course, otherwise I'd be on a serious sugar high 😆 Happy Valentine's Day to you all (or Happy Galentine's Day, as Leslie Knope would say)!