How is it August already?! August…say it with me – AUGUST!!! I feel like I should be on the look out for the big sale on road salt to appear at Costco, because it won’t be long now until we’re shovelling our driveways again. But seeing as it’s only August I wanted to say this; if I see one pumpkin spice latte or one Halloween display in a store anytime soon I will punch someone in the face, and Christmas trees will get a swift knee to the groin. But seriously, I do heart Halloween, what’s not to love? CANDY CANDY CANDY!!! But I’m just not ready to love it quite yet, just like I don’t love Valentine’s Day patterned decorations when I’m still trying to finish up my Christmas shopping.

But growing up in the Nilsen household Halloween was always kind of a big deal. I remember my sister and I would get home from school and my mom would have baked some sort of “scary” cake with fake fingers hanging out of it, this tradition carried on right into high school, awwww, my mom is super cute. We would always order pizza for dinner and then we’d start getting ready to hit the streets. I would attempt to make my case as to why I thought I shouldn’t have to wear a winter jacket under my costume of choice that year. Plus how am I suppose to be a pretty princess when I look like a marshmallow, stupid jacket!

Fast forward to 25 years later and now on Hallowe’en comfort and warmth for me is a must. It puzzles me to see half naked (well almost naked) young women prancing around in public. There’s the sexy nurses, sexy cops, sexy vampires, sexy little red riding hood, sexy lion, sexy dragon…you laugh but I bet there’s a costume for that!

Seriously though, did they wake up on the 31st and think… how can I look a little more slutty this year??? Clearly their mothers didn’t have them wearing snow suits under their costumes growing up. And do these “sexy” costumes lead to securing a date for the following weekend? Because if I have to pretend like I wandered into the streets fresh off the Victoria’s Secret runway show to secure a date?! Well then I would prefer to remain date free.

But this, this date right here, this date you’re all going to want…

Oat Free Date Squares

Filling:
2 cups of Medjool dates pitted (about 16)
3/4 cups hot water
2 tbsp coconut sugar

Crust:
1 cup gluten free flour
1 1/2 cups quinoa flakes
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cups coconut sugar
3/4 cups melted coconut oil

Preheat your oven to 350 then line a square baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.

In a small bowl toss in your hot water and pitted dates and them them soften up for a few minutes, this process will make it easier for you to break them down into a paste in your food processor.

In a large bowl combine all of your crust ingredients, and mix up everything until all the ingredients are combined.

Now grab your prepared baking dish and pour half of your crust into the bottom of the dish, about 3/4 cups. Press down making sure you spread it out evenly to all four corners, then layer on your date filling and spread that out evenly. Top with the rest of your crust and into the oven it goes for about 45 minutes.

You’ll need to refrain from digging in too soon cause you gotta let them cool or cutting up these bad boys with prove to be somewhat of a challenge… I learnt the hard way. If you’re impatient just toss them into the fridge to speed up the process.

Cut, serve, enjoy, repeat.