Sunday, March 17, 2019

Banana Date Muffins and California Dreamin'


Here we are in the last few days of winter! Even though it will officially be spring by the end of this week, and temperatures are starting to warm a bit, our heat is still on and evening temps hover around freezing. There are signs of spring, however, and I see tiny sprouts of scilla and crocus popping up through the cold, wet soil, which is a feast for the eyes after our long, snowy winter. 

The last week of February and first week of March, my husband and I were very fortunate to escape the Wisconsin winter and traveled to Palm Desert, California where we enjoyed golfing, hiking, green grass, flowers and palm trees with a group of close friends.  This trip to California and California dates were the inspiration for my recipe, which you will find below.  


On our first hike, we returned to one of our favorite places to visit, Joshua Tree National Park.  Last year, we hiked the Hidden Valley Trail and this year we decided on the Barker Dam Trail.  Here we are in front of the pond created by Barker dam which was built by local cattlemen in 1900.  The water was originally a catch basin for natural rainfall and springs and the dam helped to retain the water.  The water attracts a variety of desert wildlife and birds.  Cattle ranching is not longer viable in this area since rainfall has decreased and springs have dried up.      

As you can see by the way we're dressed, it's much cooler in Joshua Tree than in the valley where we were staying due to the difference in elevation of almost 3,000 feet.


You can tell how high the elevation is at Joshua Tree by seeing the snow-capped peaks in the distance which weren't that much higher!  


An iconic view of sand, boulders and Joshua Trees. Bouldering is very popular in this part of the park and we saw several young people with their bouldering 'mats'.


One of the most interesting things to see on the Barker Dam trail are the 1,000-year-old Indian petroglyphs hidden within the rock formation above.


As you get to the opening in the boulder, the shelter of the overhanging rock is filled with petroglyphs (which are different from pictographs as they are carved into the stone rather than painted on the surface).


Unfortunately, the petroglyphs were vandalized at some point and someone painted over them.  I read one version of the story which said it was a Disney film crew that painted them to make them show up better while filming a movie in 1961 but I can't say if that story is true as I only found one mention of it. 


Our other hike took us to the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, not far from where we were staying.

Above is the McCallum Pond, which is a true palm oasis and desert wetland in the middle of the sandy desert. The oasis was formed by a branch of the San Andreas Fault. Water has found it way up to the surface by weaknesses in the earth caused by the fault, creating this beautiful and natural habitat, which provides water and shelter for a variety of wildlife.

Within a few hundred feet from the oasis the desert was in full bloom! We were so fortunate to see the desert flowers in bloom because of recent rains. It was a glorious sight and the scent of the flowers filled the air.  


 Native verbena and bright yellow brittlebush carpeted the hillsides where we hiked.


My husband and I hiking the Moon Country Trail where we also saw wild campanula, desert daisies and wild lupines in bloom.


The bounty of the Coachella Valley finally brings me to my recipe for Banana Date Muffins!

This part of the California desert, and stretching to Yuma, Arizona, produces the majority of dates available for purchase in the United States.  Date palms were brought to the United States in the late 1700s by missionaries but superior crops weren't introduced until the USDA went looking for crops to plant that would thrive in the U.S.  The temperatures and soil in the Coachella Valley are so similar to the arid Middle East and Sahara Desert that offshoots of those highly productive trees were planted and cultivated in California around 1900.  Now date palms are grown on over more than 6,500 acres and produce more then 40,000 pounds of dates harvested per year.  I brought home both Medjool and Deglet-Noor dates from our trip. As you might guess, I LOVE dates!


The smaller dates on the left are Deglet-Noor and the huge ones on the right are Medjool, both sweet and delicious but I've never seen such large Medjool dates available for purchase here.  Despite their higher calories, dates are highly nutritious and have antioxidant value which you can read about here.

I've been making this banana bread recipe for over 20 years and it still remains my favorite.  I decided to switch up my recipe and add some of my precious California dates, spices and fresh orange zest.  I love how they turned out.  

Banana Date Muffins

Printable Recipe

Yields 11-12 muffins (depending on how you fill the cups or 1 - 9" x 5" loaf, recipe is easily doubled.

6 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1-1/2 cups mashed overripe bananas (about 3-4)
1/2 teaspoon (packed) grated orange zest
1/2 cup finely diced pitted dates

Topping:

1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with paper liners or lightly butter a loaf pan (or use a baking spray with flour added). Mix topping ingredients of chopped pecans and brown sugar together and set aside.

In a large bowl, or stand mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom, cinnamon and salt. Add alternately with bananas to egg mixture, then mix in orange zest. Fold in chopped dates.

Pour into prepared muffin cups or loaf pan and top with the pecan/brown sugar mixture and bake in 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes for muffins or about 60 minutes for loaves, depending on the size of the pan you are using. Check to make sure a toothpick inserted in the centers out clean as all ovens are different.

Cool in pans 5 minutes and then remove to a rack to cool completely.

38 comments:

  1. Oh Susan...you were just in my neighborhood...I love the pictures you share as we have not been to Joshua Tree National Park for ages...and every time we drive to the area we see lots of places selling dates...
    I love the combination of banana and dates in the muffins, they sure look delicious, thanks for the recipe. I hope you are having a great weekend!

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    1. You live in paradise, Juliana! I didn't know that's where you lived. We so enjoyed our stay. Thank you!

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  2. aww Susan what lovely pictures and your recipe is delicious ! Ilove dates, these muffins look wonderful
    You and yourhubby are a lovely couple.xo.

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    1. You are so kind, Gloria :) I was a wonderful trip and I really do love dates.♥

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  3. What a fit and beautiful couple! Desert flowers in bloom are definitely something!
    I always love to use dates to sweeten my baked goods. These muffins look absolutely mouthwatering with the combo of flavours.
    Thank YOU so much for sharing, Susan.

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    1. Thank you, Angie! Not as fit as I thought I was as I still a little sore from all the hiking and golf :) Wouldn't trade the aches for anything we did, though.

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  4. Your Banana Date Muffins looks great and I need one with my afternoon cup of coffee. Thanks for sharing the lovely images of your retreat to Palm Dessert. I've not been for a number of years, but use to love to visit in February/March.

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    1. Muffins and tea sounds perfect! It was a lovely time of year to visit, Ron. We were so lucky to be able to see the desert in bloom this year. The rains they had also wreaked havoc in some parts of the valley and on one golf course some of the holes were washed out along with the cart paths!

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  5. I recently had dates for the first time and really enjoyed them Susan. Your recipe sounds great:@)

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    1. It's funny, I love dates and dried figs but I don't like raisins! Thanks, Lynn :)

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  6. You're so lovely!!:):) How sad if it is a Disney crew that tried to make them show up more..how guilty they must feel!
    The banana bread date muffins sound and look great.I love dates too!
    Have a FABULOUS weekend:) And Happy Happy Happy Birthday coming up:)

    39 looks amazing on you!

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    1. You are sooooo sweet! Whoever did it should feel guilty to deface an ancient site like that. So sad! It least it wasn't spray painted with graffiti...that would be awful. Thank you, Dear Monique ♥ My knees have been feeling my age since we returned :)

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  7. Your photos are great, it sounds like you had a fabulous time, Susan! Our grandson and his family just visited there and loved it. The muffins look delicious, I would love them. If only I could talk Bill into eating dates, he likes bananas though so this just might work! Thanks for the recipe!

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    1. Thanks, Pam! You feel as though you're driving into a different world when you start to see all of the boulder formations. It's truly stunning to see. My husband doesn't like dates either. Sometimes I just don't tell him...he doesn't even know the difference :)

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  8. I have always loved Medjool dates, and my mom was a date lover too :-) Those muffins look wonderful! One of these trips to CA, I will get to Joshua Tree National Park. Joe's family lives near Malibu, and my goal is to visit them in the winter when I retire. Loved seeing the snow-capped peaks in the distance. What a lovely couple you are. xo

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    1. I'm sure I got my love of dates from my mother too :) The Palm Desert area and Joshua Tree would be great side-trips when you get to Malibu, Debbie! We really love this part of California and part of its appeal for my husband and I are all of the beautiful golf courses :) Thank you, Debbie!

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  9. I loved reading about your trip and seeing pics of you and your hubby, and seeing the area, which I've never been to. I am a date lover, Susan, as was my late beloved mom. Although I gag at raw bananas, I can eat them in baked goods. Your bread sounds wonderful with the spices, the orange zest and the dates. Thanks for sharing the beauty of your trip and the recipe to remind you of your visit.

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    1. Thanks so much, Kitty! We are very fortunate to have good friends to travel with also that enjoy doing all of the things we enjoy and one of my friends and I were obsessed with finding some dates to bring home :)

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  10. Dates and banana bread sound like a very tasty combination. I am going to try this. (I love dates with cream cheese and a walnut on top.) Fabulous vacation. You and your Beloved are a very good-looking couple. 💕

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    1. Oh, I'll have to try your dates with cream cheese and walnut! Sounds great! Thanks so much, Vee ♥

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  11. Look at the size of those dates...they are gorgeous. Your muffins as well as your trip sound perfect.

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    1. Aren't they huge??? So sweet and delicious too :) Thank you, Karen!

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  12. I must give them a try, I love dates !You are a couple full of charm ! A warm hug from Trieste

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  13. Love any type of muffins, look so good Wonderful views☺

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  14. I love banana bread and I love dates. Putting the two together is brilliant! Love the little touch of cardamom and orange too!

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  15. Susan, I'm so glad you and your husband had a great getaway in CA! Joshua Tree Nat'l Park looks like an amazing place. I love banana bread and muffins and your recipe has two ingredients I've never put into mine! Cardamom and dates must add so much flavor. I look forward to trying it your way! :)

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    1. Thank you, Marcelle! It is such an amazing place! Hope you enjoy the California-style banana muffins :)

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  16. What a great vacation, you both look like you're really enjoying it. And a great recipe to remember it by.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you, Amalia! We did have a wonderful time and enjoyed a short break from the end of winter here :)

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  17. We visited California approx three years back but visited the usual touristy places. Loved reading your post.
    The muffins sound really good

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    1. Thank you very much, Varuna! I just visited your site and it looks delicious :) We loved our short visit and did manage to see such much while there. Especially loved our hikes and golf. Hope you enjoy the muffins if you try them.

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  18. These sound delicious. I've also enjoyed your pictures and details about your trip.

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    1. Thank you, Anca, for your kind comment! I will come and visit your site too :)

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  19. Great banana date muffins recipe! I would be eating these every day if they were not so high on calories :)

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    1. Thanks so much for the comment, Luke! I hear you on the calories, that's why I freeze most and just take out one occasionally :)

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