Nuts | Zest For Cooking

Almond Coconut Meringues

March 26, 2015 by pamflo

Light, airy, melts-in-your mouth and gluten free! Meringues are surprisingly simple to make. The secret to crispy meringues are whipping the egg whites to stiff peaks. You can either use a standing mixer with the whip attachment, or a hand mixer. When I was in cooking school, we had to whip the whites by hand — it builds muscle! The key steps are to whip room temperature egg whites until they’re a little creamy, slowly add the sugar, and then stabilize the whites […]

Categories: Chocolate/Candy, Cookies/Brownies, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Nuts, Snack • Tags: Bake, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Whiz

Chopped Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad

March 19, 2015 by pamflo

After two months of hibernating indoors with such a cold and snowy winter, I finally went for a walk outdoors and actually heard the birds chirping. With the thought of spring arriving soon, I made this fresh crunchy salad. Feel free to mixed it up, use almonds, pistachios or pepitas and tart dried cherries as a substitute for the cranberries. Yum! SALAD: 1 cup walnuts, chopped 1 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved and thinly sliced 1 pound Tusan or curly kale […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Greens, Nuts, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetables, Vegetarian • Tags: Gluten Free, Toast, Whiz

Farro and Oatmeal Porridge

February 19, 2015 by pamflo

Most mornings I make myself a smoothie for breakfast. On very cold mornings, I’m not always craving an icy drink, but instead I’m craving a creamy, steamy bowl of warmth. On these (too many!) snowy days, this bowl of porridge is the ultimate comfort food. The topping options are many. My porridge is topped with toasted coconut flakes, slivered almonds, cinnamon and unsweetened almond milk. Consider other types of nuts or nut butters, dried or fresh fruit, chia seeds or pepitas. […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Nuts, Rice/Grains, Snack • Tags: Dairy Free, Simmer

Spiced Popcorn with Pecans and Raisins

January 30, 2015 by pamflo

The Northeast has been pummeled this week with snow, and even more snow expected! It’s the perfect excuse to get into the kitchen and cook up something tasty. Who doesn’t love popcorn, especially mixed with toasted nuts and warm spices. You can pop your own popcorn or use a store bought brand. If you’re entertaining for the Super Bowl, considering serving this yummy treat. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Toss 5 cups popped popcorn with 2 cups pecans and set aside. […]

Categories: Dessert, Gluten Free, Nuts, Snack • Tags: Bake, Gluten Free

Cocoa Dusted Almonds

December 18, 2014 by pamflo

Outrageous! Oven roasted, lightly sweetened almonds covered in cocoa powder. It’s a great gift idea and easy to double the recipe. The secret to this delicious treat, is in the quality of the cocoa powder. Good cocoa powder elevates your desserts. Many markets sell professional quality cocoa powder. I use Valrhona or Callebaut ground cocoa. Ghiradelli is a good choice too. For those wanting a sugar substitute, feel free to use xylitol instead of the powdered sugar. 2 cups whole […]

Categories: Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Nuts, Snack • Tags: Bake

French Chocolate Bark

December 19, 2011 by pamflo

I thought I would give you another idea for holiday gifts. A fun and festive recipe is Ina Garten’s French Chocolate Bark. It is delish, easy to make and a beautiful gift. Most professional chocolate is “tempered” which requires it to be brought to a certain temperature. This ensures a shiny finish, and a longer shelf life. It takes time and a little skill. This bark recipe does not require you to temper the chocolate. Un-tempered chocolate can “bloom” or turn […]

Categories: Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gifts, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Low Sugar, Nuts • Tags: Melt