#MMAZ Dates + {No Sugar Baked Beans}

I have been planning this recipe and post for literally weeks... ever since one of my readers requested a low (or no) sugar baked beans recipe in time for the Labor Day weekend festivities.  Your wish is my command.  Coinciding with this request was a new blog challenge created by my friend Heather where we cook through the alphabet: A to Z.  She picks the ingredients, we all create recipes/posts on Meatless Mondays with that same ingredient.  The plus for you (the reader!) is that you can go to her site and see a bunch of different recipes all with the same ingredient!  I missed A - C, but made sure to be ready for the big D: dates! 

Dates:

Is it just me, or does a big pile of dates look awfully similar to a bunch of cockroaches? Just sayin'...


Speaking of cockroaches... I took Babycakes to the Butterfly Pavillion recently. Her favorite part was petting, picking up, and playing with the hissing cockroaches. Um, yeeeeeeah, definitely her daddy's daughter.

Now that I've thoroughly grossed you out, let's get back to this no sugar baked beans recipe!! I decided to use dates as the sweetener instead of sugar.  First you blend them THE DATES up into a semi-dry gooey mess:

Then you further blend them with hot water into a smooth puree, with a consistency similar to peanut butter:

This was finger lickin' good.  I will definitely be making more things utilizing this date puree in the VERY near future!

Introducing No Sugar Baked Beans:

A perfect side dish for that end of summer bbq. 

And yes, I realize my recipe is not entirely meatless (see small pile of bacon crumbles on the top).  You could omit that part or use a vegetarian meat substitute, if desired. I just happen to like bacon in my baked beans...I'm a Southern gal.

Questions:

  • What are your favorite bbq dishes?
  • Are you sad summer is coming to a close?

{No Sugar Baked Beans}

{No Sugar Baked Beans}

Description

No Sugar Baked Beans - sweetened with dates | No Sugar Sweet Life

Ingredients

2 cans Navy Beans (drained & rinsed)
3 tablespoons Date Puree (1 cup dates, 1/3 cup hot water)
1⁄4 teaspoon Dry Mustard
1⁄4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1⁄2 teaspoon Onion Flakes
3 tablespoons Ketchup
2 slices Bacon (optional)

Instructions

1. Make Date Puree:

  • Blend 1 cup of pitted dates (I used an immersion blender)
  • Add 1/3 cup of super hot water and continue to blend until smooth

2. Cook bacon in microwave.
3. Add all ingredients into a quart-sized pan.
4. Stir over medium heat for about 8 minutes, or until warmed through.
5. Enjoy!

Yields 4 Servings