MythBuster

There is a secret date candy recipe that has been in my family for a few generations. Great Grandma Nana Frederickson invented this treat years ago and it is made only at Christmas. As the legend goes, See's Candy tried to buy the recipe from Nana, but she refused. You must be or marry a descendant of Nana to be allowed to make the candy - even then, you are not allowed a written copy of the recipe until you prove yourself worthy after you've produced a few successful candy batches. The candy must be made in the presence of either my Granny (Nana's daughter-in-law) or someone who has been trained by Granny, such as my mother. The candy can only be cooked in one of two cast aluminum pots, using only fresh dates from a date palm tree (my Granny has a guy in the east Valley, AZ that saves his dates for her every July). The dates must be peeled and ground (twice) in a meat grinder and then placed in the freezer to await their candy destiny later in December. And, the recipe requires twelve cups of pecans (I didn't say that this candy was healthy) that are carefully sliced one by one, not chopped from a bag bought at the store. Well...........this year I was on my own in Utah. I didn't have Granny, my mother, a cast aluminum pot, a meat grinder or a "date guy". But, I must announce to all in my family who have fretted about this Mount Everest of candy-making, that I have dispelled the myth! This year, I bought dates and chopped pecans at the grocery store. I mashed the dates - no grinder. I cooked the candy in a stainless steel stockpot from IKEA. Did the date candy turn out? I answer......oh, I can't answer right now, my mouth is full of delicious, chewy, mouth-watering, perfect date candy! Nobody tell Granny!