If you’ve never had the pleasure of eating a date square, with its layers of crumbly-crunchy oatmeal crust sandwiching vanilla-scented, jammy date filling — you’ve missed a delicious (and classic) treat. While some date square recipes combine filling and crust in one chewy bar, I prefer this three-layer approach.

You will find chutneys at most Indian dining tables, each region having their own signature. A chutney is similar to a relish or jam. They can be sweet, sour, or savory made with fruit, vegetables, or herbs. What chutneys have in common are fresh ingredients ground together. At one time, a mortar & pestle would have been used to make a chutney, though now most use the convenience of a food processor. Chutneys help balance a dish by adding incredible flavor. The herbs or spices added to chutneys help aid in digestion and stoke the digestive fire.