Growing up in the country definitely had its advantages. So black walnuts were no stranger to me as a kid with back country roads lined with Black Walnuts – January Featured Ingredient. In the fall nuts would fall freely from the trees. All you needed to do was drive down one of those roads, stopping to pick up the green-skinned balls. Black Walnuts can be found growing in 32 states with Missouri calling the black walnut its official tree nut.
Black Walnut trees are one of natures most valuable resources as the whole tree is of value. The nuts are a food resource used in a variety of ways especially in baking. These nuts are rich with a buttery distinctive flavor. Other uses include crafting furniture from the tree itself while the husks are used in dye making and shells used in many industrial applications. Black Walnut trees are one of the hardest sources of wood and one of the most utilized trees.
Black Walnuts – January Featured Ingredient
As kids we would remove the green skin of a black walnut and the nuts were left to cure for several weeks until the nut is totally dry. Today Black Walnuts – January Featured Ingredient are still picked by hand which has been done for years. The nuts are no longer peeled by hand as they are sent to hulling stations and then on to processing. Hulling stations are located throughout the Midwestern states like Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois. Hammons Products Company is the premier supplier of black walnuts, family owned, operating since 1946. Read more about Hammons and the black walnut business what makes these nuts so special.
Black Walnuts – January Featured Ingredient
When it comes to baking nothing can take the place of black walnuts’ bold flavor. These wonderful nuts bake up beautifully in cakes, cookies and breads. Black Walnuts are fabulous toasted and used as toppings for salads not to mention entrees and side dishes. Black Walnuts – January Featured Ingredient has more protein than any other tree nut.
First of all, Black Walnuts are super healthy, low in saturated fat, high in unsaturated fat, high in protein, and a perfect sugar-free snack. Like I mentioned earlier, black walnuts are marvelous in baked goods but don’t forget to add them to, oatmeal, your favorite yogurt, salads, and trail mix or homemade granola. The nuts rich buttery taste sets them apart from any other nut. Use chopped black walnuts for crusting fish and chicken recipes as you would use pecans. The burst of flavor is undeniably delicious.
Black Walnuts – January Featured Ingredient
So baking is the most popular way of incorporating black walnuts into your recipes. Flavor is more robust than English walnuts, elevating any recipe where they are used. One of my favorite recipes are my Black Walnut Oatmeal Crisps or my Pumpkin Cake with Vanilla Glaze and Toasted Black Walnuts. Checkout my recipe for Black Walnut Oatmeal Crisps I posted in December as part of my cookie week and my Pumpkin Cake with Vanilla Glaze and Toasted Black Walnuts posted in November. I think you’ll enjoy both recipes as a way to try black walnuts if you’ve never eaten them before.
Black Walnuts – January Featured Ingredient
I have no doubt these delicious nuts will become a fast favorite when making pesto. Just omit pine nuts and add n black walnuts to make Black Walnut Pesto instead of traditional pesto. If your recipe calls for pecans, walnuts, or almonds add in black walnuts instead. Possibilities are endless. I love my salads topped with toasted black walnuts in place of almonds or pecans. Top ice cream with these little gems as the taste will rival butter pecan. Try it and see what I mean. Enjoy the world of Black Walnuts – January Featured Ingredient and create your own signature creations. Until next month…
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