I whipped-up another fantastic recipe from Real Simple tonight: Vegetable Fried Rice.
This time, however, I stumbled upon the recipe in the Real Simple Best Recipes cookbook instead of in the current magazine issue or on the website.
I’m totally obsessed with this cookbook! Love, love, love it!
As expected, the Vegetable Fried Rice recipe was easy to make and turned out great. It had a wonderful fried rice flavor without all of the greasiness of take-out or typical restaurant fried rice. And I loved that the recipe called for so many veggies!
For dessert, I made a batch of Chocolate Dipped Dates. 
Remember when I made Chocolate Dipped Apricots? I made the dates the exact same way: melted a hunk of dark chocolate in the microwave, dipped dates, and cooled in fridge for about an hour.
And then I ate half of them! 
Regional Best Giveaway
Thanks to everyone who entered the Regional Best giveaway! They have lots of good stuff, don’t they?
Here’s your random integer: 273
Congrats!!! Please email me at tina@carrotsncake.com with your full name.
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Monday is a good night for TV, so I’m off to veg on the couch with Mal and Murph. I’m already in my PJ’s!
Good night!!! 
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Dates are so good, they are like candy!
I love making homemade veggie fried rice.. so simple and good.
I didn’t realize Real Simple had a cookbook!
Best way to have fruit ever!
Holy yum! I need to get this cookbook!
I could totally go for a chocolate covered date right now!
Those dates look delicious!
I can’t buy dates because I will eat about a million per day if I have them anywhere near me. Chocolate and Dates sounds like a great combination!
Oh yum, those dates look great and I bet that concept would be great with any dried fruit! I’ll have to check out the cookbook too, I’m always looking for healthy recipes.
Yum those dates look good!
yay, you finally remembered to buy/eat some dates!
I’ve never had dates before. But I have heard all the rage. And especially chocolate dipped? I can just about imagine. Have a good night!
Oh my lord, chocolate dipped dates???? Those are little bits of heaven.
Uh, I was one away from winning!! This is the closest I’ve ever come to winning a giveaway on a blog. Thanks for the Regional Best tip though, I’m excited to look through their site more.
I really need to get dates for so many recipes!
Oh my goodnesss, I neeeeed to make those dates covered in chocolate!
Dates plus PB= snickers. So date plus chocolate must be even better!
now THAT’S a hot date
oh, pardon my awful pun.
chocolate covered anything is good in my book!
Those dates sound amazing! Well, really anything dipped in chocolate sounds amazing
Those chocolate dipped apricots looks soo yummy!
Both looks super yummy! I also agree with anything dipped in chocolate does sound amazing. lol
Yum! I love recipes that call for lots of veggies too
I love dark chocolate, I’m going to have to start “dipping” stuff. I like making my own desserts.
the veggie fried rice looks really healthy! love the chocolate dipped dates!
jenna
Real Simple is the best! This looks ‘Simply” delish!
Real Simple has some great recipes!
Love the chocolate dipped dates! Love chocolate dipped anything ;P
Great idea for the chocolate dipped dates – they are so sweet!
@Jenny: Haha I love this. Awful puns are necessary in these types of situations
Those dates look like such a deliciously healthy twist on dessert. And the Fried Rice? A deliciously healthy twist on a take-out classic.
I want to make fried rice! My mom would be proud!
I absolutely love dates. That is so simple, but I bet it tastes soooo good.
I made fried rice for my family last night too! So much better for you when you make it yourself. It is a favorite here.
Veggie fried rice is so yummy! Especially when you add some pineapple
Those dates look tasty! I wonder if they’d be good if you stuffed them with peanut butter first THEN dipped them?!!