The Date Shake (smoothie) solves all problems. | SPG 31 Days of Smoothies
For me, this is saving the best for last. A smoothie dedicated to an all-time classic: The Date Shake.
For more information on the date shake, including origins, who has the best, and a trove of recipes, look it up. My date shake is dedication to, and specific to, one location, and that's Dateland, Arizona.
When I lived in Arizona (both times), I used to day trip to San Diego, as one is wont to do (right?). The first time I drove through Dateland was on the way back from my first of such trips. I saw a sign about "famous Date Shakes" and, being the foodthusiast that I was, went "OH! Date Shakes! I've heard of them!" Mind you, I had just driven through Palm Springs, one of the purported origin places of the Date Shake.
Anyway, I for sure stopped. One, because they told me to on the sign, and two, because this was a Date Shake served at a store inside a gas station, and you know those are the best stops for everything road-trip related.
To this day, I cannot properly describe the magic they created in that shake, because I don't want to know, and I don't need to know. Caramel-like, with a deep flavor I can't quite describe, but when you know, you know, you know?
From then on, Dateland became a destination. Even when I would go back to Arizona to visit, there was always a trip to Dateland. It represented road trip freedom, the openness of the desert, and even though it was a 2-hour drive from Phoenix, it was just time to think, to stare, to ponder life. Corporate focus-shift made your role obsolete and you didn't know what came next? Dateland. Unprecedented, life-altering family event occured on the other side of the country? Dateland. Just wanted a Date Shake? Dateland.
Though I don't care to try to re-create the exact Date Shake, because what would be the fun of getting a real one, I do have my own tribute band version, the Date Shake (smoothie).
Until next time we meet, Dateland. Until next time.
The Date Shake (smoothie)
1 cup milk of choice
1 serving protein powder of choice
2-3 pitted Medjool or 4-6 Deglet dates (this is indulgence here, GO FOR IT)
2 tablespoons walnuts
1/2 of a large frozen banana
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Tiny pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Make It:
Place all of the ingredients in a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Make that important life decision.
Pictured here: THE REAL THING. And the author in front of the Dateland Travel Center, circa 2019. Not her first trip. Not her last.
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