a date which will live in infamy

I don't think I had my first date until I was in my 20s.

I'm referring, of course, to the chewy fruit of the date palm, not the social outing. Were you thinking I was a social leper? You were, weren't you. Hey--no hard feelings.

So to my point--dates are delicious and very useful in baking, two things I never would've suspected. They're a natural, unprocessed alternative to sugar and are often used to sweeten baked goods, which is great for the vegans and raw dieters. Like brown sugar or molasses, dates provide a rich, deep sweetness, and since they contribute to texture and moistness as well, you can reduce or fully eliminate butter and oil from traditional recipes, which is great for all dieters.

While there's still plenty of sugar in these cupcakes, the amount of butter is relatively low. The dates definitely keep them moist and add a delightful chew to the whole affair. And hey--cardamom! Why are you so rarely used? The crunch of the toasted walnuts is enjoyable too. You can top them with anything, even plain ol' powdered sugar. Marthaused creme fraiche, I used buttercream frosting, the rebellious among you might go wild and use cinnamon whipped cream or something. It would all be good.

Itty Bitty Nutty Date Cupcakes
Adapted from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes: 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone's Favorite Treat
Makes about 75 mini cupcakes
Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 10 ounces plump, moist dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
• 1-1/2 cups boiling water
• 2 ounces butter, cut into small chunks
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/3 cups walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line several mini muffin tins with liners,
Whisk together the flour, soda, baking powder, salt, and cardamom; set aside.
In a large bowl, pour the boiling water over the dates and butter. Stir until the butter is melted and the dates are soft, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the brown sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla.
Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined.
Fold in walnuts.
Divide batter among the 75 cups, filling each just three-quarters full.
Bake about 15 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through.
Cool the cupcakes completely in the tins, then remove them and frost as desired. 

Meet Hobo, my stepdad's cat.
Any of you cat owners out there ever have a cat that licked the hair clean off its back legs, tail, and belly?
My mom, my stepdad, and the vet are stumped, so any advice is welcome and appreciated!