The NuttyBlog : Nutty News and Updates from JW Renfroe Pecan Co

Nuts: traditionally, they’re part of many of the snacks we eat, and they’re an integral ingredient in many cookies, breads and other baked goods. In recent years, nuts have also been used to garnish salads, add protein and flavor to vegetable side dishes, and are a featured part of stir-fries and other ethnic dishes.

According to Hersheys.com, nuts have been, and continue to be, a staple food for many world cultures. They’re known as tree nuts and include almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts (also called filberts), macadamia nuts, pistachios and pine nuts. Peanuts, although actually legumes, often are grouped in with tree nuts and may be eaten raw or prepared in dishes, just like tree nuts, the Web site explained.

Nuts have also come into the spotlight in recent years because of their nutritional benefits, which are listed in general nutrition and health information on the Hershey.com Web site. Nuts are part of the U.S. Food Guide Pyramid, in the “Meats, Poultry, Fish, Beans Eggs and Nut group,” and one-third cup of nuts may be substituted for a one-ounce serving of cooked lean meat. Nuts are loaded with folic acid and vitamins E and B6, and minerals magnesium, copper, zinc, selenium and potassium. Although nuts are full of fat, that fat is unsaturated and may actually decrease levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels. A storehouse of vitamins, minerals, unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, nuts have been included in the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which recommends four to five servings of nuts a week to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure. (read more)

With fitness freaks stressing on fat-free healthy diet, dry fruits like cashews, almonds are in for stiff competition from the new variants popularly known as the ‘healthy nuts’ or ‘healthy dry fruits’.

“Researchers and nutritionists across the world have proved that it is wrong to stay away from nuts because of the presumed fat and cholesterol. No, doubt, nuts indeed give you fat but then hazelnuts gives you good fat,” says V N Dalmia of Dalmia Continental Private Ltd (DCPL) which is all set to market Leonardo Hazelnuts in India promoting it as a ‘healthy nut’… (read more)

While we have a recipe for oven roasted & salted pecans, some just prefer the good ole’ deep fry technique. All times listed below are based on a temperature of 360°, so you may need to adjust your times according to your fryer. Remember not to over-cook, the nuts will continue to brown after removal from the oil. Cooking them until they “look” done will burn them. According to your taste, drizzle with melted butter and popcorn salt while the nuts are cooling. As a substitute to salt, sprinkle on a cajun spice mix.

Pecans - 1 min - stir once
Almonds - 2 min - stir once
Brazils - 2½ min - stir once
Cashews - 1½ min - stir constantly
Filberts (hazel nuts) - 1½ min - stir constantly
Macadamias - 1½ min - stir constantly
Peanuts - 3 min - stir once