Nuts
Health Conscious Snacks
Gourmet nuts are a tasty and very versatile food that can be enjoyed by themselves or as an ingredient in recipes such as salads, main dishes and desserts. Not only do they taste good and lend a lot of flavor to any recipe, they also add texture and have health benefits. Gourmet nuts can be found in a variety of desserts, including cakes, ice cream, chocolate, fudge, brownies, and even snack mixes.
Gourmet nuts tend to be larger versions of popular nuts or they could be less common species. There are a large variety of gourmet nuts found around the world including chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, macadamia nuts, etc. These nuts can be eaten raw, dry roasted, plain or flavored.
If looking for the technical meaning of a nut, it is a dry fruit that has one, sometimes two, seeds that harden upon maturity. Those nuts considered to be true are made by flowering plants, although not all of these varieties are edible. And, of those that are, some are not even palatable.
Believe it or not, some nuts aren't even nuts. For example, peanuts aren't nuts, but a legume. Even favorites such as cashews, almonds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts aren't technically true nuts.
Now, you just read that true nuts are seeds. But, that isn't to say that all seeds are nuts. Those seeds that aren't nuts can be separated from their fruit. A nut is actually a compound ovary that is considered to be both the fruit and the seed, so they are unable to be separated.
Gourmet nuts not only taste good, but can also be good for you. Their high oil content and protein make them a great source of energy. And, they are also a wonderful nutritional source for wildlife.