Acorn Oil is oil pressed from acorns. Some acorns are more than 30% oil. It is pressed from Spanish and north-west African acorns, rather than the bitter ones in Europe and North America. Some wild-eyed acorn enthusiasts think that Acorn Oil might be the next big thing. It is made and used in Algeria and…
Nuts
Acorn Starch
Acorn starch is a beige-coloured, finely-ground powder. To make it, acorns are ground and soaked. The grindings are discarded, but the resulting sediment is collected from the water is collected. Though called a “starch” in English, it is used more as a flour than as a thickener. In Korea, it is used to make various…
Acorn Starch Jelly
Acorn Starch Jelly is a Korean jelly made from acorn starch. Its texture is like a firm blanc-mange or piece of firm tofu. It is brown, the colour of milk chocolate It is rather bland, but its texture is its purpose. To make it, starch is mixed with water, then allowed to set in a…
Acorns
Acorns are nuts from oak trees. There are really, from a food aspect, two types of acorns: Spanish and North African acorns, and all the rest. The acorns most worth bothering with are considered to be those of the oak tree known variously as holly, holm or ilex oak (Quercus ilex var rotundifolia — aka…
Almond Butter
Almond Butter © Denzil Green The modern definition of Almond Butter is ground up almonds, usually with a bit of oil added to bind the ground almonds together. It looks like the kind of natural peanut butter that has the oil on top. Sometimes, a bit of sweetener is added. It can be used in…
Almond Day
The 16th of February is Almond Day. This is approximately the time when almond trees start to blossom in California.
Almond Extract
Almond Extract © Denzil Green Almond Extract is a concentrated liquid that provides almond flavour to foods. Most almond extracts are made from almond oil blended with the flavourless alcohol, ethyl. Bitter-almond oil is generally used rather than oil from sweet almonds as it has more of an almond flavour. Artificial almond extract is made…
Almond Flour
Blanched Almonds that are very finely ground. To make, grind a handful of almonds at a time in a blender or food processor. Equivalents 1 cup = 3 1/2 oz = 100g Storage Hints Because the nuts are ground so finely, they won’t store for long at room temperature or even refrigerated before going rancid,…
Almond Milk
Almond milk is a “milk-like” liquid that is made from water and almonds. The almonds are crushed, then soaked in water, then blended into the water, after which any remaining almond pulp is strained out leaving just the almond “milk.” It is sometimes given to invalids who might not be up to managing dairy yet,…
Almond Oil
Almond Oil © Denzil Green Almond Oil is a clear oil made from crushed almonds. In kitchens, it is usually used for baking and in desserts. The almonds are usually raw, though some manufacturers toast the almonds first. The almonds used can be either sweet or bitter almonds. The oil from the bitter-almonds is preferred,…
Almond Paste
To make almond paste, sugar is added to blanched, ground almonds, and then some kind of a syrup liquid such as glycerine, glucose or corn syrup. Almond extract is sometimes added to enhance flavour. The final product is a thick, somewhat sticky substance. And, needless to say, sweet. Almond paste is somewhere in the middle…
Almond Syrup
Almond Syrup is a sweet, thin, almond-flavoured syrup. It is usually clear. It is used in various mixed alcoholic cocktails. You can buy it in bottles, or make it yourself. Cooking Tips To make: Bring to a boil 1/2 cup (4 oz / 125ml) water with 1 cup (8 oz / 225g) white sugar, and…
Almonds
Almonds are members of the peach family. The tree blossoms in the spring before it grows leaves.There are two kinds of Almonds, sweet and bitter. An Almond, technically, isn’t a nut — it’s the pit of a fruit related to peaches, plums and apricots. The Almond fruit is small, green and has soft, velvety fuzz…
Amalou
Amalou is a chocolate-coloured, honey-based nut paste made in Morocco. The taste is not dissimilar to commercial peanut butter (which is sweetened, as opposed to “natural” peanut butter.) It is either made from honey and squished argan kernels (leftover after pressing them for argan oil) for a syrupy dip, or honey, ground almonds and argan…
Amaretto
Amaretto is a generic term for almond flavoured liqueurs. Some brands may actually use almonds, but the most famous brand, Amaretto di Saronno actually uses apricot pits. It has a slightly bitter favour and an alcohol content that ranges from 23 to 28%. Apparently made since 1525, it is still owned (2004) by the Saronno…
Blanched Almonds
Blanched Almonds © Denzil Green Sweet Almonds are usually blanched before use, because the outer brown skin on the nut can irritate the digestive tubes of some people. The almonds are scalded in boiling water, plunged into cold water, then put through rollers that rub the skin off. The nuts are then dried and packaged….
Brazil Nuts
Brazil Nuts © Denzil Green Brazil Nut trees are grown in Peru and Bolivia as well as in Brazil. The trees grow up to 165 feet tall (50 metres.) Attempts at growing the trees in plantations have so far failed to produce Nuts. Only a certain type of bee, called Euglossine bees, can really pollinate…
Cashew Nuts
A cashew nut is a kidney-shaped nut which is always sold unshelled. The cashew tree Cashew trees thrive in tropical heat. They are tropical evergreens that can grow quickly up to 15 metres (50 feet) tall. They have large leaves — 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches) long and 5 to 7.5 cm…
Chestnut Purée
Chestnut purée is a purée of chestnuts. It can be savoury or sweet. The sweet chestnut purée can be bought cheaply in jars or cans, or you can make it yourself. The cans and jars will come in varying sizes.
Chestnuts
Chestnut is a name used to refer to a category of high-starch nuts from Europe, North America and Asia. They are eaten cooked or prepared in some way, but not raw. Several products as well as traditional recipes are made from them.
Coconut Cream
Coconut Cream © Denzil Green Coconut Cream is a thicker version of Coconut Milk. It is unsweetened, but heat treated, then packaged and sold in cans or cartons. Shake before opening. If you’re looking for a sweetened version to use in mixed drinks, you’re after Cream of Coconut. Coconut Cream is different from Creamed Coconut….
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is a liquid made from water and coconut flesh. It is not, as most people might guess, from the water or juice drained out of a coconut. Instead, coconut milk is made by infusing water with grated coconut, just as almond milk is made by soaking ground almonds in water. It looks a…
Coconut Powder
Sometimes Desiccated Coconut is referred to as Coconut Powder by some manufacturers to mean dried, shredded coconut. Most often, though, Coconut Powder is meant to be a very fine powder, like a flour. It is made by evaporating coconut milk. To use, reconstitute in water. This is good to have on hand if you cook…
Coconut Water
Coconut Water © Denzil Green Coconut Water is the thin juice that comes out of the inside of coconuts. It’s somewhat pale and opaque, and slightly syrupy and sweet. It is usually used as a beverage, drunk as is. It’s best drunk chilled, but can be drunk straight out of the coconut via a straw…