Nuts, nuts, and more nuts....but no peanuts!

It is a misstatement to call a peanut a nut. In fact the ever popular peanut, because they don't grow on trees, fall in the category of legumes, like peas and beans. Legumes are edible seeds that grow in pods.

On the other hand, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, pine nuts, almonds, etc. are considered tree nuts. Simply put, nuts are nuts because they grow on trees.

a variety of nuts

Nuts may be small in size, but they have a lengthy and powerful history to them.  There is archeological evidence from Israel that shows nuts to be a major part of the human diet dating back 780,000 years ago. Tools for cracking open the nuts along with remains of wild almonds, pistachios and water chestnuts were found. The tools were similar to stone tools called "nutting" stones found in the United States and Europe dating back 4,000 - 8,000 years ago. The oldest walnut remains were discovered in Iraq and are believed to be from 50,000 B.C.

Early Native Americans would place a nut in the depression of a stone, hit the nut with another stone, called a hammer stone, and then enjoy the meat of the nut. The nuts would also be ground down with a mortar and pestle to make flour or nut butter. The nuts were often cooked to make a broth, which was cooled and the congealed fat was taken off and used for later cooking. Nothing went to waste. The nut shells were used to fuel fire for cooking.

nutting stone

As a historical powerhouse, nuts also claim a large place in the world of nutrition because they are "nutrient-dense."  They contain complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  Nuts have trace minerals like magnesium, zinc, selenium and copper. Going even further, nuts (and seeds) have been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease.  Each type of nut holds it's own particular properties.  For more information on the nut(s) you prefer, here's a site that might be useful.

Here are some interesting fact about some of the nuts we are familiar with:

Walnuts were considered food of the Gods by the Greeks and Romans. They were ground to flour and used as a thickening agent, much like we use corn starch today. They were also used for oil and as a trading commodity. English ships throughout the Mediterranean carried walnuts to use in trade. This is where the name "English Walnut" began.

Walnuts

Pecan remains were found in an excavation in Texas dating back to 6100 B.C. The pecan is native only to North American and was found near river beds and was a food staple to natives. Early settlers understood the importance of pecans in their diet as well.

Pecans

Macadamia nuts are often associated with Hawaii. However, they actually originated in Australia and were brought to Hawaii in the late 19th century. Today much of the world's supply of this delicate nut is grown on the islands.

Macadamia nuts

Almonds are believed to be one the first foods to be cultivated. Evidence of almonds has been found in Cyprus and Greece. The almond is native to the Middle East and Southern Asia.

Almonds

Hazelnuts are also known as Filberts, Cobb nut or Spanish Nut.  Documentation found in China dating back to the year 2838 B.C. puts hazelnuts among the five sacred nourishments God bestowed on human beings.

Hazelnuts

Cashews are native to Brazil, but have been widely cultivated in India and Africa since the 16th century. Cashews always come to us shelled because there is a caustic oil that lay between the outer and inner shells of the nut. The outer layer and oil are burned off. Then the nut is roasted to remove the inner shell.

Cashews

But let's not overlook all the other nut possibilities.  There are coconuts, pine nuts, pistachios, chestnuts...find out more about the variety of nuts here.

Okay, now that we can distinguish between legumes and nuts, let's talk about what we can do with nuts. Let's see, we can make oil, like walnut oil, macadamia oil, hazelnut oil, etc. It has become clear that there are alternatives to corn or vegetable oil.

We can also make butter out of nuts. So move over peanut butter (not really, because we really like peanut butter).  We are here to add another butter to the "what should we spread on our bread" question.  So this week's 2 Prickly Pear recipe is....

wait for it......

wait for it.....

We're making Almond Cashew Butter!!!  Hurray!  Huzzah!  YUMMY!!!

Cashew and Almond Nut Butter

Here's what you need:

1 cup roasted/salted cashews (can use unsalted if you like)***

1 cup roasted/salted almonds (can use unsalted if you like)***

Olive oil only if needed

Salt to taste (optional)

Here's what you need to do:

Put nuts in food processor.  Process nuts until they turn into butter.  This takes approximately 3-5 minutes.  Be patient when deciding if you need additional oil.  All nuts have oil in them but some have more than others.  The nuts will first become a powder, then it will look like a dough is forming, and finally they break down to a butter consistency.  At first it doesn't look like it will happen, but it will.  If you like a crunchy butter, you can add additional nuts at the end and process until it is the consistency you like.

***You can make butter out of any combination of nuts you like or just use your favorite nut all by itself.  You can also add flavorings if you like.  Honey is a good idea or maple syrup or anything you like.

There you have it!  Your own nut butter without all the stuff you don't like from process/store bought.  And it's easy!

Now, go out and make something good.