Spring means green almonds. Now is the time to enjoy this culinary novelty raw or cooked, in salads, pasta, stews and pickles. I have been playing around with green almonds for decades. (Please read more about green almonds here.) Here’s a quick refresher and some easy ways with green almonds. Right after almond trees bloom in February and March, their small green buds form. From March through May, the buds grow into plump green pods.
Tuesday, August 01
How to Blanch Almonds
Many recipes call for blanched almonds, the nuts with their skins removed. You can buy whole blanched almonds or blanched slivered almonds online or at the local store. But blanching almonds at home is rather simple. It takes about 15 minutes of hands-on work. Read along to learn how to blanch almonds in your home kitchen. First select whole almonds with their skins intact. The skins protect the nuts from insect damage and help the
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Wednesday, July 22
Almond Romesco Sauce
Hot weather means cold food. We cook early in the day before our kitchen heats up. And we rely on a rotation of dishes to beat the heat including this Almond Romesco Sauce. Spanish romesco sauce is made from charred tomatoes and almonds or walnuts, which give it a dark undertone. Almonds in place of walnuts and roasted red peppers in place of tomatoes changes the flavor profile, lightening the sauce. There’s not much to
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Wednesday, April 22
Veal Marengo with Green Almonds
Green almond season has me thinking of ways to use this symbolic food, the first fresh green thing to appear in many orchards. Seeing veal in the local store gave me the idea to revisit an old chestnut, Veal Marengo. It is a classic preparation for an elegant yet homey dish of veal stewed with tomatoes and mushrooms. Adding green almonds proved to be a lucky hunch. When cooked, the green almonds taste like cooked
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Tuesday, May 05
Asparagus, Roasted Almond and Poached Egg Breakfast Salad
When the world is upside down, something bright, fresh and green starts my day. You barely need a recipe for this Asparagus, Roasted Almond and Poached Egg Breakfast Salad. I wrote it down because it is a combination that always satisfies. The recipe serves only one because my other half religiously eats his poached egg with an English muffin. And this recipe serves as a little primer on eggs and labeling. Buying Eggs Poaching requires
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Saturday, April 04
Orange and Almond Chiffon Cake
Our Easter gathering will be a party of two this year. But I know someone who will really enjoy this Orange and Almond Chiffon Cake, especially if I serve it with fresh raspberries and coconut sorbet. A moist chiffon cake combines the lightness of angel food cake with some of the richness of a butter cake. Instead of butter, oil gives the cake its tender crumb. This gluten-free cake is ideal for Easter or Passover.
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Thursday, November 21
Pumpkin Cherry Pear Cake with Cinnamon Almond Streusel
What do you look for in a snacking cake when the temperature dips? Pumpkin, naturally. And warm spices in a cake that is studded with fruit. This moist Pumpkin Cherry Pear Cake with Cinnamon Almond Streusel delivers just that and is what I’m making right now. We serve it for breakfast or for dessert when we have houseguests. I originally developed this recipe for American Almond Products Company. I used their cinnamon filling in the
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Sunday, November 17
Roasted Almond Butter Hummus
Hummus has become a staple, a high protein snack that makes eating carrot sticks a pleasure. Prepared hummus will do in a pinch but making it at home means I get the exact flavor I like. This Roasted Almond Butter Hummus uses dark roasted almond butter in place of tahini. A generous dose of lemon juice brightens the flavor of this addicting spread. Roasting transforms the personality of the elegant almond. As the temperature increases,
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Tuesday, July 31
Emerite + Almonds: Summer Salad Combination
Harciots verts fines, the French call them, the thinnest, finest and earliest green beans of summer. Today I picked the first green haricots from our Connecticut garden, a French variety called emerite. Although green beans will dominate in a few weeks, right now we relish a plate of salad greens topped with emerite and almonds. The distinguishing characteristics of this pole bean variety are length and girth, or lack thereof. These beans are straight, long
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Tuesday, February 27
Stewed Lamb Shoulder, Green Almonds and Mint
Persian cooking fascinates me. It’s a cuisine that mixes sour, sweet and savory. Persian flavors make me think of cooking lamb and fresh green almonds. This recipe for Stewed Lamb Shoulder, Green Almonds and Mint is my take on a lamb koresht or stew. Jump to Recipe To prepare the stew, I use meaty lamb shoulder chops. This cut is both flavorful and lean. Don’t let the bones bother you. Cut what large chunks of
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"Let no man fancy he knows how to dine Till he has learnt how taste and taste combine."
-Horace, Satires, 2.4They're here!
