Can I use dates to sweeten vinaigrettes/use pork rinds as bread crumbs?

[abbyn]

I bought dates to sweeten vinaigrettes- for example- I soaked 1 date in hot water to replace the sugar in a recipe that made 5-6 servings of carrot raisin salad. I'd also like to make a balsamic vinaigrette that tastes balanced, not sweet, and maybe even add some dates to a large batch of barbecue sauce I'd like to make. 

I'm sorry if this answer is somewhere else, I haven't been able to find it.

Also, I made this recipe from stupideasypaleo: http://stupideasypaleo.com/2014/03/30/crispy-buffalo-chicken-fingers/

and loved the idea of using pork rinds as a breadcrumb, so tonight I made salmon cakes that had a light breading of crushed pork rinds.

I think/hope these ideas are ok and not too swypo-y...

thanks for any input!

[ShannonM816]

Dates are definitely okay -- they're addressed specifically in the Official "Can I Have" list here:

 

Pork rinds are also okay -- see this post:

 

 

 

*editing to put in the links that somehow disappeared after I posted this: The Can I Have list  and the post about pork rinds. Any idea why my links sometimes just vanish? It happens when I just cut and paste them into the posts instead of making a fancy link like I did in this edit.

[missmary]

Shannon is right, both of these are ok. That said, use caution with the pork rinds. Pork Cracklings you make yourself from pastured pork, awesome! Pork rinds purchased in a packet from a grocery store or convenience store? Maybe technically compliant (assuming no off-plan ingredients) but really not a good source of fat considering they are most certainly from industrial-raised, conventionally fed pork.