Here's my recipe for dates.
Buy two large bunches of fresh dates, or boxes of dried.
Take them out to a remote corner of your garden, well away from the house.
Sprinkle them with copious amounts of petrol, kerosene, paraffin or other inflammant.
Taking care to stand well back, throw lighted match on dates.
Cook until carbonised and scatter the ashes to the four winds.
Repeat daily until end of date season.