Fruit Nougat

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

1 pound Dates

1 pound Figs

1 pound Raisins

1 pound Walnuts

Powdered sugar

Sweet chocolate, (optional)

Preparation

This is not a classic nougat, since it is not based in honey or boiled sugar syrup; rather, it is more of a pemmican, like commercially available

"date rolls. " To keep the dried fruit from sticking to the grinder and making it bind, heat the grinder parts in boiling rater immediately before grinding.

Stone the dates, cut the stems off the figs, stone the raisins (or use seedless raisins), and shell the walnuts; put all the fruit and nuts through the meat chopper, roll out thin on a board sprinkled with powdered sugar, and cut into squares. These are delicious dipped in melted sweet chocolate.