A protein rich, smooth and succulent smoothie with the earthy undertones and texture of almond butter. You could also add some sliced almonds for another textural surprise. Substitute with your favorite fruit, which can be frozen in zip lock bags when in season, to use throughout the year.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups vanilla almond milk
2 cups frozen peaches
1 cup frozen blackberries
2 tablespoons almond butter
2 tablespoons honey
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth and thick.
1/4 ounce fast rise yeast or 1 tablespoon fresh yeast
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk, plus 2 tablespoons milk
2 large eggs
Syrup
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar (brand Sugar in the Raw)
4 tablespoons maple syrup
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 cup hazelnut pieces
Glaze
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
Filling
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup light brown raw sugar (demerara) or 1/2 cup turbinado sugar (brand Sugar in the Raw)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
Butter a 12-cup muffin pan.
Line a roasting pan or baking pan with parchment paper (for turning the sticky buns onto later) large enough to cover muffin pan.
Combine flour, sugar, salt and yeast in a large mixing bowl.
Melt butter in the milk over very low heat and beat in eggs.
Stir milk/butter mixture into the dry ingredients to make the dough. Knead for 10 minutes or for 5 with dough hook. When it is springy and satiny, form a ball and put in a greased bowl. Turn to coat and cover with plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Syrup: Using an electric mixer cream butter until soft and smooth and add sugar. Beat in syrups and then divide mixture among the muffin cups and top with hazelnuts (about a tablespoonful in each sticky-based waiting cup.).
Preheat oven to 350.
Knock dough back, knead once or twice and then roll out to a large rectangle (apx 24X12) with the long side nearest you. Beat egg and add milk; glaze the dough using a pastry brush or your fingers.
Mix the filling ingredients in a little bowl and sprinkle onto the dough. Now, roll up from the long side and away from you, carefully and firmly (not too tight) keeping a firm sausage shape.
Cut into 12 even slices, and lie each slice spiral-swirly cut side up, on top of the nuts and syrup in the muffin cups.
Leave to rise for about 20 minutes then put into the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, by which time they should be golden.
Place roasting pan or baking sheet on top and turn the whole thing the other way up. Remove the muffin tray and dislodge any nuts that are still stuck in it, adding them, along with any residual syrup, to the upturned buns.
A simple Mediterranean sweet red pepper spread with just a hint of spice. Great as a dip for bread or crudité.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup California walnuts, toasted
1 (16-oz.) jar roasted red peppers
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
Extra virgin olive oil, finely chopped California walnuts and chopped fresh parsley (optional garnishes)
INSTRUCTIONS
Place walnuts in a food processor and process until they become thick and smooth like walnut butter.
Place peppers in a strainer and drain well. Transfer to a plate and press between paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
Add to the food processor with remaining ingredients and puree until smooth.
Transfer to a bowl and garnish with olive oil, walnuts and parsley, if desired.
NOTE: Roasted peppers can vary in sweetness. Add an additional tablespoon of vinegar if the dip is too sweet, or a teaspoon of sugar if the dip is too tart.
Sheet pan dinners make for easy weeknight meal-prep and clean-up. Prepare simple pecan-crusted salmon fillets and Brussels sprouts and place on a single baking sheet for a full meal that’s prepped and cooked in just over 30 minutes.
Ingredients
1/3 cup raw pecan pieces
4 (4 to 6-ounce) salmon filets, skins, removed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pound Brussels sprouts, halved
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup raw pecan halves
1 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. and lightly grease a large baking sheet pan. Place pecan pieces in a wide, shallow dish.
Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper and brush top sides with about 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Press salmon fillets top-side-down into the finely chopped pecans to coat. Arrange salmon fillets in the center of prepared baking sheet.
In a medium bowl, combine Brussels sprouts, remaining olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, pecans halves, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine, then transfer to the sheet pan in a single layer, not touching the salmon.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes until Brussels sprouts are fork-tender and salmon is cooked through.
While salmon is baking: in a medium sauce pan bring balsamic vinegar to a boil, continue to boil, stirring throughout, for about 10 minutes until liquid has reduced by half. Remove from heat, stir in honey, and allow to cool until ready to serve. Drizzle over salmon and Brussels sprouts just before serving.
Pistachio-powered portabella mushroom. Recipe by Jeremy Jones, professional snowboarder and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
INGREDIENTS
3 Large portabella mushrooms, whole
Enough olive oil to generously coat and drizzle on mushrooms
1 ¼ cups Shelled pistachios, chopped
3 Garlic cloves
Sprinkle tops with Hemp seeds to taste (option)
Salt, pepper and dried herbs like fresh basil or parsley (option)
INSTRUCTIONS
Remove stems and wash mushroom caps. Coat all sides with olive oil. Finely chop one garlic clove per mushroom. Sprinkle inside the mushrooms. Coarsely chop pistachios and fill each cap to the top. Generously drizzle olive oil on top of chopped pistachios.
Bake at 400 degrees, Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes.
Serve as a main dish or slice into bite-size chunks for an appetizer.
Blogger Liz Moody shares her recipe for Pecan Peach Crumble, perfect for a sweet mid-afternoon snack or a nutritious dessert!
INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup chopped pecans
4 peaches, halved with the pit removed
3 tablespoons grass-fed butter or coconut oil, softened but not liquid
1/3 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup oat flour
1/3 cup coconut sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the pecan pieces to the bowl of a large food processor. Process on high (with an S-blade) for about 15 seconds until they form a fine powder. Make sure not to over-process the pecans and release the oils too much.
Add the remaining 3 ingredients to the bowl of the food processor and process for about one minute until it forms a dough.
Carefully remove the blade from the food processor, and divide the dough into 12 balls. (Alternatively, press the dough into the bottom of a parchment-lined loaf pan and cut into pieces at a later step.)
Let the bites chill in the refrigerator or freezer for about an hour before enjoying. The bites can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
This rich soup packs a punch of hoppy flavor from an India Pale Ale. Sharp and medium cheddar cheeses complement the beer to create a tangy, creamy starter for a fun local beer dinner. It’s served with a hazelnut topping that has a hit of savory garlic flavor. Be sure to buy cheese by the block and shred your own for this soup. Pre-shredded cheeses can have coatings to prevent clumping that also prevent a smooth soup.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup roasted hazelnuts halved or roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, grated
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 ounces Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
8 ounces Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
4 ounces Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese, shredded
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the hazelnuts, 1 clove of garlic, and 2 teaspoons of butter to a medium skillet. Heat over medium high and toss gently to melt the butter and gently cook the garlic as it coats the nuts. Cook for about 1 minute and remove from the heat.
Melt the remaining butter in a small soup pot over medium heat and add the remaining garlic. Let cook until it just begins to sizzle, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and pour in the beer.
Return the pan to medium heat. Stir together the cornstarch and water in a small dish. Pour this into the warming beer and whisk. Continue to whisk as the beer heats and the liquid thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
Turn the heat to low. Add the cheeses a handful at a time and whisk the soup well to melt the cheese. Once the cheeses are smooth. Remove the soup from the heat.
Ladle into 4 small bowls and top each with garlic hazelnuts and fresh chives before serving.
The Italians are renowned for incorporating nuts into pasta, whether pesto or a nut and breadcrumb, parmesan crumble. Often meals in Italy won’t have meat, and the addition of nuts in a vegetable pasta adds protein and lots of other valuable nutrients. The key is finding the right nut for the right vegetable – Brazil nuts are wonderful with mushrooms, peas, cauliflower, broccoli and so much more. Discover your own perfect match!
INGREDIENTS
1 pound preferred pasta (fettuccini, pappardelle, tagliatelle or other long flat pasta are best)
Olive oil
½ cup coarsely chopped Brazil nuts
4 sprigs sage, leaves sliced, saving 4-6 whole
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Zest and juice of ½ lemon
1 large or 2 small shallot, diced
14 ounces wild mushrooms – chanterelle, maitake, oyster, etc.
INSTRUCTIONS
Cook pasta according to directions on packet. Drain and toss through a little olive oil.
Clean the mushrooms and tear into large pieces.
Heat a large fry pan over medium high and add the Brazil nuts. Toss a few minutes to just brown (you’ll smell them becoming aromatic). Transfer to a bowl and toss with the chopped sage, parmesan and lemon zest. Set aside.
Heat a splash of oil in the same pan and fry the whole sage leaves for a few seconds until crisp, it happens quickly. Place on a paper towel.
Add the shallot to the sage scented oil in the pan and cook over medium heat for 1 minute until just softening.
Add the mushrooms and turn heat to high. Cook, stirring till mushrooms start to soften, 4-5 minutes. Add lemon juice and toss through.
Add pasta and Brazil nut mixture and mix until just warmed through adding a little splash of wine if mix is dry.
