Julie Le Clerc whips up her own nut butter and checks out date syrup.

Food editor JULIE LE CLERC shares her recent finds for cooking, eating and entertaining well

I'm cooking with: date syrup

This natural sweetener is a distillation of the sticky goodness and rich caramel flavours of whole dates and nothing else (the only listed ingredient is dates). Capturing all the benefits of the ancient powerhouse fruit of the date palm, this syrup is high in antioxidants and packed with nutrients like magnesium, phosphorus and zinc, making it the most nutritionally dense sweetener out there.

O Drizzle some over your morning bowl of porridge, cereal and yoghurt, French toast, waffles or pancakes.

O Use date syrup in place of honey when toasting a batch of homemade muesli. O Use in place of refined sugar in baking. O A splash will complement even savoury bites, like a grilled cheese sandwich.

O The caramel notes work well instead of sugar in hot or iced coffee.

ON MY BOOKSTAND

Keepers: Classic recipes you’ll use again and again with a delicious twist from Pepper & Me. By Cherie Metcalfe, Allen & Unwin, $45

What’s in it: As the title suggests, these recipes are definitely keepers – the ones that will take your cooking to the next level and that you’ll want to make on rotation.

Recipe picks: Caesar Soup, Falafel Bites, St Louis-style Pork Ribs, Cheat’s Ciabatta. Why buy it: To create and share dishes with that extra flavour punch every time.

I'm loving OURS TRULY MILK DELIVERY

Ours Truly home delivers (to select North Island regions at present) organic, non-homogenised, full-cream milk with cream that settles on the top – just like the old days. $4.25 per litre. Order at ourstruly.co.nz.

MAMIA’S ETHIOPIAN SAUCES

Relaunched with bright new packaging, the rich flavours of Mamia’s (mother’s) sauces come from a special blend of Ethiopian spices. Use as a relish, dip or sauce base for stews, soups and pizza. $11.50 per 400g from mamias.co.nz.

CLEVEDON BUFFALO WALNUT GOUDA

Local walnuts meld with soft, buttery buffalo cheese in a very complementary way to form this seriously addictive taste sensation. $79.90 per kg. Visit clevedonbuffalo.co.nz for stockists.

Make your own: nut butter

Blending your own nut butter at home is easy, saves money, turns out creamy and delicious and is an immensely satisfying process to embrace. You can use any type of nut you have at hand for specific nut butters or blend up a mixture of different nuts for extra taste complexity. The nuts used can be raw but roasting them first will bring out fuller toasty flavours. Nuts with their skins on will give a darker, coarser result while skinless nuts will make the smoothest nut butter. Homemade nut butters will keep for several weeks if stored in a sealed glass jar in the fridge, or can be frozen for up to 4 months. Use in baking and desserts, spread on toast, add to smoothies, use as a dip with fresh fruits, swirl into porridge, add to dressings and marinades, or simply eat by the spoonful.

Basic Nut Butter

2 cups raw nuts of choice, such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, cashew nuts (or a mixture)

Pinch of salt (optional)

Spread nuts over an oven tray. Roast at 180°C for 10-15 minutes, check and stir after 10 minutes, until golden brown.

Remove to cool. Place nuts in a sturdy food processor or blender, add a little salt, if desired. Process until nuts break down to form a smooth, creamy paste (this can take 5-10 minutes), stopping regularly to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Transfer to a jar, seal well and store in the fridge. Makes about 1½ cups

CACIO E PEPE PASTA SAUCE

This new classic Roman sauce is a delicious blend of pecorino and grana padano cheeses, cream and black pepper. Simply stir through hot pasta or enjoy as a side sauce for seasonal vegetables. $9.90 per 180g from sabato.co.nz.

JASBERRY RICE MIX

Dark purple Jasberry rice is super high in antioxidants and full of flavour. Pack more nutrients into your meals with this new blend of Jasberry and brown jasmine rices. $8.99 per 500g from selected supermarkets and health stores.

ROZA’S GOURMET

These gourmet mustards and chutneys can be used in all the usual ways and more. Jazz up a cheese platter, dollop on burgers or serve beside homemade pies. $9.50 per 240ml from selected Countdown stores.