Almond Joy!
Today is National Almond Day! For years this nut has been on top of the "good for you" health train. Full of manganese, vitmain E, magnesium, tryptophan, copper, vitamin B all necessary for the body. Almonds are said to reduce your risk of heart disease, lower LDL Cholesterol, provide protection against Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, helps in weight loss, prevents gallstones and gives you energy. All good things so it's no surprise that it is considered a superfood.
The beautifully teardrop shape almond in fact is not a nut but the fruit of a seed from the almond tree. Almonds are native to the Middle East. It was spread through ancient times along the shores of the Mediterranean into northern Africa and southern Europe and more recently transported to other parts of the world, notably California. Yay California!
It's interesting to note that a wild form of domesticated almond that grows in parts of the Levant (Palestine territory, Jordan, Israel Lebanon, Syria) has a compound called glycosdie amygdalin, which turns into a type of cyanide whenever these almonds are chewed, crushed or bruised. However domesticated almonds are not poisonous. A genetic mutation that occurs in domesticated almonds, which was discovered accidentally in garbage heaps then purposefully implemented in orchards, is the reason for the significant differences.
Almonds are no longer just for eating in handfuls but also in extract, flour and milk. I never realized you could milk an almond, but whatever. Almonds are found in many dishes; Desserts, Salads, Pastas, etc...
Here are a few recipes (Thank you Food Network) you can try that celebrate almonds in different forms. Granted some of these recipes the butter and sugar kinda defeats the purpose but its good!
Find joy in the almond!
Let's start with something decadent:
Salted Caramel Banana Macaroons
Then something less labor intensive but just as delicious:
Cherry Almond Clafouti Let's go Savory!
Salmon with Puff Pastry and Pesto
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