Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Fall has been weird, here in New England. For the most part, the leaves are still green, and on the trees. Those that have fallen, have turned brown right away. No pretty leaf-peeping walks this year.

All the same, it is Fall, and Winter will be on us before we know it. Are you stockpiling nuts away for the winter, like the squirrels? If so, these are some very delicious options. (And don’t wait for December, they’re a delicious—and healthy!—treat right now.)

Chile-roasted almonds
1 T chili powder
1 T extra-virgin olive oil
½ t kosher salt
½ t ground cumin
½ t ground coriander
¼ t ground cinnamon
¼ t freshly ground black pepper
2 c whole almonds
Preheat oven to 350°. In a medium bowl, combine chili powder, olive oil, kosher salt, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and pepper; add almonds and toss to coat. Transfer mixture to a baking pan. Bake about 10 minutes or until almonds are toasted, stirring twice. Cool almonds completely before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Sugar-and-spice walnuts
1 egg white
1 T water
½ t vanilla
8 oz walnuts
½ c granulated sugar
1 t ground cinnamon
3/4 t salt
¼ t ground cloves
¼ t ground nutmeg
Preheat oven to 300°. Lightly beat egg white with water and vanilla with a fork. Add walnuts to egg white mixture. Stir until all walnuts are coated with the egg white mixture. Combine sugar, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and nutmeg and add to walnut mixture. Stir until all walnuts are coated with sugar-and-spice spice mixture. Transfer walnuts individually to a 12-by-18-inch nonstick baking sheet coated with cooking spray, ensuring that the walnuts are separated and dispersed evenly on the baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, then transfer walnuts to a clean, flat surface to cool. These are as good on a salad as they are by the handful.

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