DESCRIPTION
Naturally sweet pecans combine with oats, cinnamon, and dried apples for a delicious, wholesome snack that can be enjoyed on its own or on top of yogurt for breakfast.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 cup fresh pecan halves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup safflower or pecan or any unflavored oil such as canola or vegetable
- 6 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1 egg white
- 1 cup dried apples, chopped into approximately 3/4-inch pieces
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix together oats, cinnamon, ginger, pecans, salt, oil, brown sugar and egg white. Pour mixture in a single layer onto large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring gently halfway through cooking, to not break up clusters.
- After 30 minutes, gently stir in dried apple pieces, and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let cool completely before serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container. Makes 4 1/2 cups. Serving size is 1/4 cup.
DESCRIPTION
Walnut butter is easy to make, and offers a variety of convenient applications. Spread on crostini and garnish with a slice of fruit or fresh herbs for an elegant appetizer, or use it as a dip for crisp vegetables for a quick snack.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups California walnuts
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons walnut or vegetable oil (or as needed)
- Optional, to taste: A little honey A little cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
You can make walnut butter using raw, soaked or toasted walnuts. Here’s how to do all three, and why they’re different.
Raw walnuts: Use raw walnuts for a very creamy and smooth texture that tastes like a just-shelled walnut.
Soaked walnuts: This method will remove some of the tannin from the walnut skin, and offer a more textured walnut butter. Soak walnuts overnight, drain and discard the water. Then, toast the walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet at 350° F for up to 15 minutes to dry them out (don’t let them get dark!). Cool the walnuts before making them into butter.
Toasted walnuts: To enhance the sweet, nutty flavor of walnuts, toast them before making them into butter. Walnut butter with toasted walnuts will provide a coarse textured finished product. Toast walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet at 350° F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until fragrant. Cool the walnuts before making them into butter.
TO MAKE BUTTER
- Make walnut butter by putting the walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and grinding them until they become sticky or paste-like. Add the salt. Add the oil, a little bit at a time until the walnut butter binds together. If you like, add small touches of honey and/or cinnamon to taste.
DESCRIPTION
Pistachio Biscotti. Recipe by Jean-Yves Charon.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ¼ cups All-purpose flour
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 1/8 tsp Baking powder
- 7/8 tsp Baking soda
- 7/8 tsp salt
- 2 large Eggs
- 4 Tbsp + 1 tsp Olive oil
- 1 Tbsp+ 2 tsp Lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp+ 2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup Whole pistachios, Shelled
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- With an electric mixer, mix together the sugar and the lemon zest at medium speed for 1 minute. Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix at low speed for 1 minute. Add the eggs, olive oil and vanilla extract. Mix at low speed for 5 to 7 minute until smooth. Add the whole pistachios and mix at low speed until evenly distributed. Put the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut into four pieces. Roll each half into a log, each 12 inches long by 1-inch high. Place the logs on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes at 350°F. Let the logs cool for 15 minutes and then place on a cutting board. Slice each log into ½ inch thick pieces. Put the biscotti back on the cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes at 300°F. Let cool down for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
