When you think about battling cancer, you probably don’t think about pastries.  But Pastry Chef Jolie Skwiercz, with Cancer Treatment Centers of America, shows us how to make delicious and healthy treats with Medjool dates.   Ovarian cancer survivor Judye Wahlberg  also joined us to promote The Sixth Annual Jodi’s Race for Awareness, which takes place  tomorrow, June 6th, at Denver’s City Park, starting at 8:30.   The race includes a 5k run/walk,  a one- mile family walk, and a survivors’ breakfast.  Register online at jodisrace.org or call 303-506-7014.   Chef Skwiercz shared two amazing pastry recipes:

Vegan Almond Date Brownies

2 tablespoons Coconut Oil

1 ½ tsp Vanilla Extract

3 Cups pitted Medjool Dates

1 ½ cups toasted Almond slices

½ tsp Sea Salt

¼ cup Cocoa powder

1. Grind almond slices in food processor until they are the size of small crumbs and pour into a separate bowl
2. Melt coconut oil.
3. In food processor puree dates with coconut oil, vanilla, salt and cocoa powder.
4. Toss with ground almonds with date mixture.
5. Press into a parchment lined sheet tray. Refrigerate until firm, approximately 1 hour.

Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1 ¾ cup gluten free old fashioned oats

1 banana

½ cup light agave nectar

1 tablespoon Desert Raw honey

1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. Cinnamon

¼ tsp. grated fresh nutmeg

1 cup raisins

1 cup sliced almonds, toasted

1. Combine 1 cup of the oats, banana, agave, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a food processor. Blend until ingredients are smooth. Pour mixture into a bowl.
2. Fold in the toasted almonds and the remaining ¾ cup oats.
3. Using a portion scoop, drop balls of dough on a parchment lined sheet tray. Press the cookies down with finger tips.
4. Dehydrate the cookies in the oven at 175 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour. Store covered at room temperature for up to 5 days.