Public Service Announcement:

This is a great time to remind everyone that there’s no need to be perfect all the time. Enjoy life and try to make good choices, but don’t let the idea of perfection rule over you.

If I had my way, it was always be a sunny, perfect day. Yesterday was not one of those days. It was overcast and rainy. I could have complained but I knew there would be perfection waiting on the other side of the storm. This morning I woke up to a gloriously chilly and beautiful day. Fantasy is nice, but reality always wins.

That being said, here’s a nice compromise between fantasy and reality in the food world. The Dilemma: Sometimes you want something sweet and salty and satisfying. While it’s tempting to reach for all manner of cookie-candy-chip related items, you know you should just stick to just eating real whole foods. Solution? The Clean Plate snack bar! The lemon apple flavor is always a big hit. For the flavor adventurers our there, I urge you to try the Ginger Date Bar!

Ginger Date Bar

3/4 c. uncrystallized ginger
10 dates (add more if the mixture is not sticky enough)
1 1/4 c. raw cashews
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. walnuts
2 Tbsp. orange zest

1. Process cashews in a food processor until finely crushed.
2. Add other ingredients until the mixture begins to stick together.
3. Press into a square plastic container and refrigerate until firm.
4. Pop the block out of the plastic and cut into small squares.