logo.png
  • Home
  • About
    • Home and Family
    • Programs
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Class Videos
  • Blog
  • Tips
  • Reviews
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Newsletter

Search by Category

Search

The Boldness of Nuts!

Yum

September 14, 2014
9 Comments

There is no question that if I considered lentils humble last week, I would say nuts are the exact opposite! They are bold and brazen! There is nothing discreet about them. In fact, they define the dishes they are in by asserting their rich nutty taste and their crunchy texture! I love nuts! In fact, I am nuts about them! I can be so emphatic about them because there is nothing like nuts to bring out the creative muse in me! Nutritionally, they are also great to add to a balanced diet because they confer so many health benefits. David helped me with this part–check out what he had to say about nuts:

Medium-Heart

a good source of protein

Medium-Heart an excellent source of healthy unsaturated fats

Medium-Heart a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants

Medium-Heart good for your heart and help lower your cholesterol

Medium-Heart help reduce the risk for Type 2 diabetes

Medium-Heart very satiating, meaning they help us feel full and stay full. In fact, some studies suggest that because of that satiating effect, nuts can help with control of appetite and weight

I have picked 4 varieties of nuts this week: walnuts, pistachios, almonds and peanuts (it turns out peanuts are a legume, not a nut, read on!). Each one creates a texture and a flavor all its own and I have used them in savory as well as sweet dishes.

Walnuts

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWalnuts are among the most nutritious of all nuts. They are a concentrated source of omega-3 fat; an excellent source of both protein and fiber; and a good source of folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, along with other vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. No wonder I find excuses to use walnuts in my cooking! My Walnut-Crusted Wild Salmon is a power couple dish, Cuisinicity style, and really, really simple to make! There are all of 2 ingredients in this dish (beside a little sea salt and fresh ground pepper)–that’s it! Talk about assertive! This dish always amazes me! Then there is my Walnut Basil Pesto Halibut. I love that one too. Interestingly, the combination of fresh basil and walnuts give it a distinct superb flavor all its own. I also like to sneak walnuts in my smoothies sometimes, as in this Berry Nutty Fig Smoothie. For dessert (at least that’s how I started out thinking of this next recipe featuring walnuts) are my Raspberry Crumb Cakes. I started out by creating these as a dessert, but as I fine-tuned their recipe, they ended up so wholesome, I decided that they actually make a lovely addition to an elegant Sunday brunch. Oh, and I just created the best wholegrain pancakes ever (!)–Try my https://cuisinicity.com/?s=pumpkinand just melt!

Pistachios

Assorted nutsPistachios are a great source of monounsaturated fat, protein and fiber and a rich source of potassium. I only have one recipe featuring pistachios this week, but WOW, is it scrumptious, well-worth its place at the table! The pistachios in this Lemon Pistachio Chicken create the creaminess of the sauce and the wine, combined with the fresh lemon juice and zest give it a delightful tangy flavor. I love this nut! I have the feeling there will be many more recipes to come exploring its versatility in desserts as well, but that’s for another day!

Almonds

Assorted nutsAlmonds are a great source of both mono- and poly-unsaturated oils protein and fiber. They are a concentrated source of vitamin E, and good source of B vitamins and potassium. Oh My goodness, what would I do without my almonds?!! I would say that, culinarily, they are the most discreet of all the nuts. I say that because, although they are very flavorful on their own, and indeed I have used them all by themselves to crust a tilapia filet or a chicken breast, they can just blend in a dessert just to give it that rich “buttery” taste. You don’t really know they are there! They just create that rich, moist lusciousness that I love in my desserts. I am featuring a few of my desserts this week to spotlight them: Almond chocolate chip cookies, Mocha Brownie Bites,  Apple Almond Cobbler, Peach Almond Cobbler, Almond Oat Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies, Almond Quinoa Cake and Almond Banana Smoothie. These speak for themselves!

Peanuts

Assorted nutsPeanuts are actually a legume, related to lentils rather than a nut! Who knew?!! I always thought they were nuts, as the name would imply, but oops, thank goodness David corrected me on this one! In any case, they are a good source of protein, unsaturated fats and fiber. They are a good source of iron, calcium, zinc and B vitamins. Good old peanuts! What I especially appreciate about them is that kids in this country are so familiar with their taste, that they just love them.  So for me, it’s an opportunity to sneak nutrition in treats for kids.  For example, my Katz Flax Crisps are the healthy and nutritious version of the conventional rice crisps, and of course, there is my  Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Panini which kids gobble up (adults too!). While this seems very ‘indulgent,’ there is method in my madness! The details in the ingredients I choose actually show its high quality nutrition.

So there you have it…in a nutshell (I couldn’t resist!!!). I promise I will post more as I create them on my new “Nuts & Seeds” glossary page in my Tips so you can always find nuts and seeds WHEREVER I sneak them in! I just added an amazing Hazelnut Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies recipe….

Bon appétit!Medium-Heart

Tweet
Share
Pin
Share
0 Shares

More From Catherine

« Apple Prune Chicken
Simply Cinnamon Apples »

Comments

  1. Donna Saliter says

    September 19, 2014 at 11:49 am

    I love eating nuts as snacks; they really quell my appetite. …And now I have some nutritious recipes to add to my nut diet. Thanks Catherine!

    Reply
    • Catherine Katz says

      September 19, 2014 at 9:08 pm

      My pleasure Donna!

      Reply
  2. June Braunlich, CHHC, AADP says

    September 16, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    Thank you, Catherine! Wonderful information on the excellent nutrition and healthy fats in nuts. I happen to be a fan of organic Cashew Butter! I know it’s not Walnuts – but, I could put it in, and on, everything. I do put it in Smoothies (made with organic unsweetened Almond Milk, half a medjool date, and organic apple with skin left on, and 1/2 a banana). Yum.

    Reply
    • Catherine Katz says

      September 16, 2014 at 12:48 pm

      Wow June, that sounds absolutely FABULOUS!! I Have to try this! I just looked up the nutrition of cashews and they are up there too with all the other nuts! Thanks so much for this lovely recipe!

      Reply
  3. Greg says

    September 15, 2014 at 11:32 am

    Oh, OK now I don’t feel left out… 🙂

    Reply
  4. Greg says

    September 15, 2014 at 9:56 am

    Hey, what the heck was that all about? I need a translator! 🙂

    Reply
    • Catherine Katz says

      September 15, 2014 at 10:06 am

      Haha! Just translating for Martine how satiating nuts are and how they can actually help with appetite and weight control!

      Reply
  5. Catherine Katz says

    September 15, 2014 at 7:54 am

    Bonjour Martine! je l’explique en quelques mots dans mon petit article en anglais, mais je vous ai trouvé un site français qui vous l’expliquera encore mieux que moi! le voilà pour vous: https://www.regimesmaigrir.com/actualites/article.php?id=879 Alors, allez-y, régalez-vous bien!

    Reply
  6. martine says

    September 15, 2014 at 4:03 am

    coucou! I am also nuts of nuts!!!! as you said!!! mais….. on dit que toutes ces bonnes choses sont très caloriques , est-ce vrai? en petites quantités , peut-être? ou pouvons-nous nous laisset aller à notre gourmandise de nuts of… nuts? bonne journée à vous et encore merci pour ce très joli blog fort intéressant!! Martine de France

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *