My sister-in-law, Mary Jane, sent me her mother’s (we all called her Bah) Date Muffin recipe. She explained that rural cooks in West Texas always keep a supply of dates on hand because of their long shelf life. Dates last three months at room temperature, between six-12 months in the fridge, and 12-plus months (for years!) in the freezer. There were always dates in the house to be used for cakes,…