I really do feel that dates and prunes get a bad rap. I get that many people associate them with constipated old people whose taste buds died eons ago, but some old people are as funky as all hell with perfectly fine taste buds, and some date and prune recipes are genuinely freaking awesome.
When I first tried dates (and prunes for that matter) I didn’t know anything about them in relation to old people so my view wasn’t tainted already. Dates I could take or leave but prunes I adore.
I have made Devils on Horseback dozens of times since starting this blog but I finally got around to actually reviewing the recipe for you. I kept forgetting to take photos doh!
The recipe can be found on page 199. Devils on horseback are literally prunes wrapped in bacon.
The Edmonds recipe says you should grill them which works perfectly well but when I usually make them I actually just bake them in the oven. I personally think they taste just a little better that way.
The great things about Devils on Horseback is that you can make as many as you need. It’s one prune to half a slice of streaky bacon – as simple as that. Also when I make them I usually lack the motivation to use toothpicks, so I just make sure I place them on the tray with the seam down so they don’t unravel. Devils on Horseback are so moreish! The contrast of the slightly sweet prune with the slightly salty bacon is a match made in heaven. Whenever I make them they are snapped up by everyone super quickly, and often people eat them without knowing 
they contain a prune; they are genuinely surprised to find out. So the next time you have a get together and you want some nibbles, I encourage you to give them a go. They are fantastic!
N
ow for Dates. I have had some bad experiences with date loaves. Often they have contained whole dates and have been quite dry and unpleasant, so I was really interested to try the recipe on page 30.
This recipe is not only really 
simple to put together but the finished loaf is absolutely stunning. Its beautifully moist and stores well, unlike other loaves that are often only good the day you make them. The flavour is delicious! The dates give the loaf a beautiful, almost caramel flavour. The added walnuts give it a lovely bit of contrasting texture. I can honestly say they I will be making this loaf again and it’s in my top 5 loaves of all time – an
d trust me I have made hundreds of loaves in my time.
I thoroughly recommend this recipe and give Edmonds a huge high-five for a brilliant recipe. Good times 🙂
So Dates and Prunes don’t have to be the scary fruit that we have been led to believe. You just need the right recipes and these 2 recipes are just that.
Until next time. Happy cooking! 🙂