When you come to visit, I will take you on a drive across the desert. We will fly down roads flat and hot, in and out of lanes, maybe for an hour. When we pass the turbines we will think about the movie Rain Man, even though those turbines are in every other movie. I’ll tell you my grandfather immigrated from Italy to Argentina in the early 1900s to build windmills. Maybe you will already know that; I’ve mentioned it before.
I’ll try to sell you on the desert, maybe extol its virtues too loudly to seem objective. I won’t be able to hide that I think it’s better than the beach and up there with the mountains. Everything is sharp and cutting, the flora and fauna and architecture. Leaves pointed, teeth sharp, angles pointed and reasonable. It’s very easy to love, especially in a room with air conditioning.
And if logic doesn’t sway you I will magnetize you with sugar. We’ll pull off HWY 111 and ignore the waves of heat dancing on the pavement. Or maybe we won’t. The heat makes a date shake that much sweeter.
Date shakes are quintessential California desert–one ‘s’, not two. You can buy a date shake anywhere in California, anywhere in the United States, really. But if you are into authenticity, a shake from the source sure does taste fine. There are shake shacks up and down the Coachella Valley and eastern parts of the Inland Empire thanks to all the date farms. We couldn’t possibly sample all of them. Since Shields is on the way, we’ll stop there. First, a suggestion: don’t get the one with mango. A plain date shake, please, if you expect to ride home with me. This isn’t the time for hipster, nouveau experimenting.
Also, I’ve already tried it. It’s not that good.
That’s what we’ll do, when you come and visit me. We’ll suck on shakes until our eyes pop and our heads hurt, in a good way, as we drive down the highway long and straight, stopping only when we get to where we’re going.
Until then, you can make one at home.
Date Shake
1/2 cup pitted dates
1 cup nonfat milk
3 cups vanilla nonfat frozen yogurt or vanilla icecream1. Coarsely chop dates.
2. In a blender, whirl dates with milk until smooth. Add frozen yogurt and whirl until smooth.
3. Pour shake into tall, chilled glasses.
Umm, not sure what to comment. Well I had an idea, but I thought it sounded stupid. So I am just going to say, “I loved this post!”
Hah! Thanks, Monica. :)
Oh, what fun we’ll have! But yes, until then … I just might have to whip me up a date shake for the road trip on Friday … seeing how I”ll be hitting the desert highway myself … dancing with the sage brush and puffing up like a blowfish from allergies. Ahh yeah, good times!
Oh dear, I’ve never even heard of date shakes. I would, however, like to climb into your photos.
My sentiments exactly!
” This isn�t the time for hipster, nouveau experimenting.”
Ha!
“…this isn�t the time for hipster, nouveau experimenting.” You said it.
I had one on our drive home last week! I considered getting the date-banana shake (which is more kosher than the date-mango combo) but ended up sticking to straight up date. D, of course, had ice cream instead, because he can’t understand why dates and shakes go together.
date shakes remind me of my dad–they’re his favorite. and why i’m telling you that i don’t know, except hey! you have a 68-year-old kindred spirit.
At first mention of a date shake I thought “ew”. Then, you mentioned a mango version and I thought, “Hm. Nothing like the original.”
Hah! Date shakes are super sweet, like a vanilla milkshake on steroids.
OMG! I used to visit my grandparents in Palm Springs every year when I was a kid and we ALWAYS got date shakes. Best.Shake.On.Earth.Period. :-)
Yes! So yummy. I hope Bobbi Jo reads your comment!
This totally brings back childhood memories. Not too far from where I grew up.
Oh goodness! I remember that place! I grew up in Hemet, but when we moved to Arizona we stopped in when we went to visit my grandparents.
I remember being absolutely mesmerized by the wind turbines. I’ve always thought they were so beautiful.
Your writing… It sings! There’s nothing like reading about a place so different from your own, especially when the writing is so deeply felt that it’s like looking at another kind of photograph of the writer. <3 it!!
Oh, those date shakes look so GOOD.
Unfortunately, I live up north in Portland, where I am surrounded by hipsters who think that mango-flavored shakes are so ’80s.. I’d love to visit Shields’ stand and have a vanilla shake.
Also, those photos are beautiful. I want to blow them up and make postcards from them. Thank you for sharing this!
Kate