This weekend I was spending some time with my family back in the Netherlands. My older brother who has lived in France for the past year decided to visit and I decided to do the same, so we would be all together. I always say that parents like you more when you live far away, because they always seem really happy to see me ever since I decided to move to Copenhagen. Which wasn’t always the case when I was younger and lived in the same house.
One thing that I really enjoy though is having meals with them, especially since I grew up and actually enjoy eating vegetables. Before that, dinner was not the best thing and mostly resulted in me sitting in my room without food. Our meals always go on forever, we are talking, making jokes and it normally ends with my younger brother getting up and cleaning the table (he cleans the table so dinner is officially over and he can go and play computer games, smart guy).
Before that we are still picking away at the leftovers, not really having good table manners and fishing the tasty bits from the pan. It is just rarely that we have a dessert, which is very strange. Mostly because all of us go crazy over a good dessert. I remember moments where we actually weighed the bowls, so we would all have the same amount! This weekend we had a tiramisu and my boyfriend had to pick who got which bowl, blindfolded. The few table manners we have disappeared because the dessert was devoured and the bowls were licked!
Actually, now that I am writing all this down, I think I know why our family shouldn’t have more desserts than just very rarely…
I hope this made you hungry enough for a dessert of your own, and this one is really good, like really good but also really filling (so leave some room in your belly for it). Good thing is that it has basically only healthy ingredients so it is more than okay to eat it (right?), we thinks so at least.
You need to soak cashews before you can create the middle part and it is smart to assemble the dessert before dinner so it has some time to set in the fridge.
Date & Cashew dessert
for 4 people (or 3 hungry ones)
Praline
75 g cashews
2 el honey
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Coarsely chop the cashews and place them on a baking tray. Drizzle the honey (if you have honey that is too thick, just heat it up a little in the microwave or in a small pan). Mix well and bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the honey is browned, keep a close look because it can burn quickly! Let it cool down and harden while working on the other parts.
Middle part
1 passionfruit
1 tbsp honey
225 gram cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours
1 tsp vanilla powder
80 ml coconut cream (the thicker part of the coconut milk from a can)
Add all ingredients to the blender and blend until it is completely smooth and has the consistency of greek yoghurt. Add water if necessary (we added around 15 ml water)
Bottom part
150 gram dates, pitted and soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes
1 tsp vanilla powder
mash on a cutting board and add water (the amount of water really depends on the dates you are using, some are really dry and need a lot, while others are juicy and need just a little water. You want to end up with a thick mash, like caramel or thick jam)
Assembly
Optional: 1 passion fruit for topping
Divide the bottom part over 4 glasses and add the middle part. Leave in the fridge during dinner. With a knife cut the praline and open the passion fruits. Top the desserts with the praline and add the passionfruit. Serve.
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