Date and Walnut Haroset Balls

https://jewishfoodexperience.com/recipes/date-and-walnut-haroset-balls/

Not a very tempting title but what could be bad about chocolate?!  Thanks to Shula for this one.  Made these to bring to NY for seder.  Because of family allergies, I used peanuts instead - not suitable for some on Passover.  I realized afterward, I should have put the peanuts in the food processor first and made a sort of peanut butter.  Then mix this with warm dates and cover with melted chocolate.  It would have been a special kind of Reese's peanut butter cup!

From the website:
My mother has been making these date and walnut balls, a variation on traditional Jewish-Iraqi haroset, which is made with chopped walnuts and silan (date honey), for years. They’re not only perfect for Passover and Tu b’Shevat, but are also healthy and tasty year round. Pressed baking dates are available in Middle Eastern and some kosher markets. To keep the recipe pareve, simply use pareve dark chocolate.

Ingredients
1 cup walnut pieces
1 13-ounce package pressed baking dates
8 ounces dark (semisweet or bittersweet) chocolate, chopped

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 minutes. Shake the baking sheet, then toast for 5 to 7 minutes longer, until walnuts turn darker in color and are fragrant. Let cool completely.
Meanwhile, if the dates seem dry, place them in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a small mixing bowl. Otherwise, soften an opened package of the dates for 15 seconds or so in the microwave.
Place the walnuts in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until they are finely chopped; reserve some of the more powdery nuts (a tablespoon or so). Add the remaining chopped nuts to the chopped or softened dates; use your hands to press the mixture together until the nuts are evenly incorporated. Pinch off pieces and roll them into 1-inch balls, placing them on a baking sheet.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 seconds segments. Stir the chocolate until it is smooth. Let cool for about 1 minute.
Use a fork or skewer to dip each ball in the melted chocolate until completely coated. Return them to the baking sheet as you work; sprinkle the reserved chopped walnuts on top. Allow the chocolate to set before serving. You can put the date balls in the fridge for about 20 minutes to help the chocolate set, but keep in mind that this may cause the chocolate to lose its shine.

'Tsimmes' Chicken with prunes and apricots

From Epicurious for Passover
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/tzimmes-chicken-with-apricots-prunes-and-carrots?mbid=nl_cookthisnow&mbid=nl_03252018_Daily_CTN_FromEpi%20(1)&CNDID=4649318&spMailingID=13175910&spUserID=MTI5MTUxMDQ1NzYwS0&spJobID=1362071861&spReportId=MTM2MjA3MTg2MQS2

This holiday-ready dinner has all the flavors of tzimmes, the traditional Jewish sweet side dish made with stewed dried fruits and honey. Roasted on baking sheets with colorful young carrots, this recipe feeds a crowd with minimal effort, giving you plenty of time for stress-free hosting.

It is delicious but on the sweet side.  I don't think I'd be able to advocate for this as a healthy meal exactly, but it IS tasty!  And, as with many dishes, much better the next day, and the day after that.  It can use a lot of plain grain or potato to go with it. I used bulgur and it worked well, soaking up the sauce.  I might try it again and include potatoes in the pan. The little bit of cayenne gives it a good kick.  The dried fruit become very soft and tasty.

Ingredients:

2 whole chickens (about 4 pounds), broken down into 8 pieces, wings and backbones reserved for another use

4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 pounds carrots, preferably young carrots with greens attached, halved lengthwise or quartered if large
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2" wedges
12 garlic cloves, peeled
8 ounces dried apricots (about 1 1/2 cups)
8 ounces dried prunes (about 1 1/2 cups)
20 sprigs thyme
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
Parsley leaves with tender stems (optional, for serving)

Directions:

1) Arrange racks in top and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 400°F. Season chicken pieces with 2 tsp. salt.
2) Whisk honey, oil, lemon juice, pepper, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne, and remaining 2 tsp. salt in a large bowl. Add chicken pieces, carrots, onion, garlic, apricots, prunes, and thyme and toss to combine.
3) Divide everything EXCEPT chicken between 2 rimmed baking sheets. Stir wine and 1/2 cup water in a 2-cup measuring cup, then pour half over each sheet.
4) Cover sheets tightly with foil. Roast 15 minutes, then remove from oven.
5) Remove foil, divide chicken between sheets, and continue to roast, rotating sheets top to bottom halfway through, until carrots are fork-tender, chicken is golden brown, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a breast registers 165°F, 30–35 minutes (if some pieces of chicken are finished before others, transfer them to a serving platter).
6) Transfer chicken mixture to serving platter. Pour pan juices over. Top with carrot greens or parsley before serving.

Calories772
Carbohydrates78 g(26%)
Fat38 g(58%)
Protein33 g(65%)
Saturated Fat9 g(43%)
Sodium1136 mg(47%)
Polyunsaturated Fat7 g
Fiber7 g(28%)
Monounsaturated Fat20 g
Cholesterol116 mg(39%)
per serving (8 servings)