Stuff dates with walnut halves and roll them in powdered sugar for a yummy treat. Photo by Jennifer Baldwin

By Michelle Beck

Every year during my childhood, we did a fair amount of treat baking this time of year. We always made several kinds of cookies and candies, including twisted peppermint candy cane sugar cookies. I noticed that Smith’s Bakery is advertising a similar cookie, which is convenient for those who might not want to bake their own. I also noticed that Smith’s Bakery is selling its famous cookie dough so people can create their own happy-face cookies while resisting the temptation to eat the delicious dough with a spoon.

Christmas treat time can be frustrating for those with allergies, but gluten-intolerant people don’t have to miss out on holiday cookie plates. These sugar cookies from blogger The Gluten-Free Girl are good for cutting shapes and frosting. Be sure to use finely-ground rice flour from Asia market to avoid a gritty texture. The unusual flours can also be found at Lassen’s. To achieve a Smith’s Bakery-like frosting, try this cookie glaze recipe.

These flourless peanut butter cookies are great for peanut-butter lovers. A handful of chocolate chips makes a nice addition as well.

Many Christmas candies are naturally gluten-free, such as fudge and, my favorite, divinity. Since it is nut season, a jar of these Swedish nuts would be a good, fresh, locally produced treat.

Speaking of gluten-free treats, the makers of Pamela’s Baking mix have several recipe variations on their website.

Dates

I am always surprised when people tell me they have never tried dates. Dates are the very sweet fruit of the palm tree and readily available from California sources this time of year. Hadley Orchards, located in the Palm Springs area, is one of the most famous.

Hadley’s is famous for their date shakes. I have never been to Palm Springs, but am tempted to make the trip so I can finally try a shake. Martha Stewart demonstrated a recipe for date shakes on her show a while back, but I have not tried it yet. I am still holding out for Hadleys.

Dates are wonderful on their own (be careful not to eat the pits!) and combine well with other ingredients to make delicious treats. My family recipe is simply dates, stuffed with a walnut and rolled in powdered sugar. Rumor has it that your Bakersfield Express editor makes a delicious treat of dates stuffed with blue cheese and rolled in bacon, but I have not been fortunate enough to try them. (Hint!)

Smith’s Bakery has delicious date muffins. They call them “no sugar added” muffins, but they include dates, coconut and walnuts.

Dates also lend themselves well to baked goods, such as Morning Glory Muffins and Date-nut bread.

Rinconada Dairy

We spent the day in San Luis Obispo a few weeks ago, and while at the Farmers’ Market were lucky enough to chat with the proprietor of Rinconada Dairy. We bought pastured chicken and delicious sheep’s milk cheese from him, and he told us about his dairy and the Farm Stay program there. A Farm Stay is similar to a bed and breakfast with the opportunity to help out on the farm as well.  To learn more about the dairy and the Farm Stay program, check out the website.

Cold-weather food

It’s been so cold this week, I have been motivated to make warm foods. If you are freezing too, here are a couple of ideas:

Spinach Salad with Roasted Fall Vegetable

Farmhouse Chowder