Fruit recipes

of protein but their sugar is in so pure and simple a form that they are readily digested and when eaten with nuts to furnish the nitrogen and fat the combination is an almost perfect food. More than one variety of date bears fruit. The wild date of India, Phenix sylvestris, is famed for its sugar production as well as for its fruit. On the whole this fruitbearing palm is not as sensitive to cold as is the cocoanut and grows luxuriantly in parts of Spain and Italy. It begins to bear from about ten years old upward indefinitely, age seeming no hindrance. Some of the Italian date trees prove their longevity for it was over one thousand years ago that those of Bordighera were planted by the monks. Cocoanuts, like dates, contain only a small per cent. of nitrogen, but, unlike that other palm fruit, provide one of the most delightful forms of oil and in as generous quantity as the date gives sugar. According to the tradition of colder climes the cocoanut is indigestible, but in the balmy countries where the cocoa-palm flourishes one does not hear of this, chiefly because its fruit is there eaten in proper condition: when at the right stages to be offered human stomachs. The white "nut"-lining is soft enough at first (when half "ripe"), to be eaten with a spoon, and the milk is not thick and white but clear, somewhat sweet, and most refreshing up to perfect maturity. It is said there is nothing more easily digested, assimilated and fattening than fresh cocoanut milk, and it is recommended to invalids to be as freely indulged in as possible: perhaps the juice of six cocoanuts a day to begin with, as a restorative. (Fresh cocoanut oil is sometimes prescribed as a substitute for cod liver oil.) There are people whose enthusiasm over it goes so far as to claim the probability of cocoanut milk being that fountain of youth so ardently sought and so persistently concealed since time itself was young. But, as with many other fruits, the cocoanut is gathered before maturity for shipment and even where cold does not affect it on the long journey it is impossible but that it should be the reverse of improved on reaching its destination. However, one may get something of the flavour of both milk and meat in the northlands and need not shun them if one uses the cocoanut from the shell and so gets it unadulterated, and uses always sufficient of all kinds of fruit to keep one’s digestive apparatus in good condition. RECIPES FOR DATES AND COCOANUT DATE SANDWICHES Stone and chop dates until soft enough to spread between thin slices of buttered bread. If good butter and wholesome white or brown bread are used one has a most satisfying luncheon, containing all the requirements of fat, sugar, nitrogen, etc. One may substitute fine-chopped nuts for the butter, for variety, if one wishes. DATE GEMS To half a cup of stoned, chopped dates add the wellbeaten yolk of one egg, a pinch of salt, half a pint of sweet milk, two scant cups of flour in which two teaspoons of baking-powder have been sifted, adding a tablespoon of oil or butter before beating in the whipped white of the egg. Bake for twenty minutes rather briskly. DATE FRUIT BREAD Make as for Bread for Fruit Toast (Introductory Recipes), _and for each loaf allow and work in nearly a pint of chopped, stoned dates. DATES WITH BREAKFAST FOOD With any cooked breakfast food stir in a cup or more of stoned, chopped dates a few minutes before removing from the fire. Or, they may be added to any uncooked, flaked food with delicious effect. STEWED DATES Wash and cover a pound of dates with one pint of water and let stand over night. In the morning place on the stove and let them come to a boil. Let them simmer gently