As an applesauce substitute, ice cream topping or morning toast spread, this rich and sweet concoction is ideal. Hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, along with brown sugar, create memories of a delicious pie filling (and wouldn’t it be nice in an individual puff pastry as dessert?). The natural sugars from dates and pears are easier for the body to process than refined sugar. There are actually dozens of types of dates, but the plump and tender medjool grown in California is the easiest to cook. Pears vary from the tart Concorde to ultra-sweet Anjou and offer many options for this sauce.
