Welcome to my weekly roundup...And welcome to a New Year I hope 2022 is a better year, a
year where we see the end of Covid or find ways to live with it as we do flu and other
communicable diseases…
What is in store for you then this week if you are catching up… Bubble and Squeak… we had ours yesterday with crispy bacon and an egg, my final environmental A-Z with a ZERO Waste Supermarket which appears to have been a great success with the residents in Kyoto, Japan…
I do hope that something similar can be adopted by the larger supermarket chains as it is definitely the way forward and we as shoppers need to change our habits …Zero Waste is a two-way process …we can no longer pay lip service we must act…
Bubble & Squeak…
Bubble and Squeak is made from leftover cooked vegetables, mashed potato or even roasties if crushed can go into the mix…
My final Environmental A-Z…For me, I found these letters most interesting although as Jim said not sure of some of the pronunciations but the message was clear every living thing plays a part in the ecosystem…our life force…we just need to understand how and why…
Zero Waste is doable…we need to make it so…if that means changing our shopping habits ..so be it…change doesn’t come without a cost it is a two-way road…
Zero Emissions may be a little harder but I’m sure eventually if it is not zero it could BE as near as damm it …so much work is going on and some of it may not work..but that is science…A scientist is someone who systematically gathers and uses research and evidence, to make hypotheses and test them, to gain and share understanding and knowledge…some work some don’t BUT that my friends is the aim of a scientist to test..the same as a cook really… we test and taste…sometimes it works and sometimes not…
I hope this post gives you hope going forward into 2022 as there is hope for a better and safer world we just all need to believe and play our part however small we need to go forward and accept that there will be change if we are to have a better world for our grandchildren and their children.
This is the start of a new series where I will review a food or a culinary product something I use or will use…maybe an ingredient which is new to me or a well-loved and used ingredient it may be an ingredient which is difficult to find and I will offer alternatives…
Welcome to Friday Food reviews where I will be covering a different food or product each week and looking at… what are they? where do they grow, what can we substitute them for in a recipe, are they safe to eat, how to store them, how to use them, cook them, anything connected to that food. or product..all the why’s and the wherefores…it will, of course, be mainly my own opinion or a known fact…good or bad…there may even be a tried and tested recipe…or three…
This week it’s…The Pine Nut.
This teardrop-shaped, delicious little nut is often used in making pesto and in the cooking of other dishes. Pine nuts (also called pignoli) are the edible seeds of pine trees. Seeds are the inner, usually edible part of a hard, inedible nut casing.
Which pine trees produce these expensive little nuts then…From about 120 species of these evergreen conifers of the pine family (Pinaceae), found throughout the world Approximately 20 species of pine trees produce pine seeds that are large enough to harvest.
The most commonly harvested seeds come from four particular pine tree varieties: the Mexican pinon (Pinus cembroides), the Colorado pinion (P. edulis), the Italian stone pine (P. pinea), and the Chinese nut pine (P. koraiensis).
Why is the Pine Nut so expensive…?
Ahhhhh that makes sense now…
Pine nuts… those tiny little gems are packed with flavour. Also known as piñón, pinoli or pignoli, they’re most associated with Mediterranean cuisine but go great as a garnish in so many recipes.
Perhaps the most well known of the pine nut recipes, pesto is a classic Italian sauce with a load of garlic, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil, along with our favourite pine nuts. This sauce is super versatile and is great on pasta, pizzas and salads. It also makes a tasty marinade.
As pine nuts are so expensive my aim is to use them in as many recipes as possible like these ones below by just enhancing the recipes with a 1/2 cup of pinenuts can make so much difference…
Though pine nuts are not a standard ingredient in hummus, they are used in this recipe to greatly enhance the flavours. Your favourite dip has never tasted so good…Just make this easy hummus recipe…
Then toast a handful or half a cup full of pine nuts then garnish the hummus with the pine nuts a drizzle of good olive oil, some dried oregano or black pepper or some crushed juniper berries whatever you fancy …Its looks and tastes delicious…
How about a nice crusty bread with a soft interior with great cheesy nutty flavours….Just take your favourite bread recipe then add 1/3 cup of pine nuts and 3/4 cup of parmesan cheese and cook as normal …I will be making this for New Year but will use my Dutch Oven recipe and add the pine nuts and parmesan…I tried some bread with pine nuts and parmesan at a local Japanese bakery which is what gave me the idea when I was thinking how I can make a pack of pine nuts go a long way…
Coq au vin is a lovely one-pot chicken dish add a garnish of toasted pine nuts and it is taken to the next level. Tender melt in your mouth chicken braised in wine with dried apricots, tons of fresh herbs and garnished with pine nuts. This one can’t be missed!… It is definitely one to try…
We love fish… baked fish gently seasoned with lime/lemon and garlic then garnished with fresh parsley and toasted pine nuts…maybe a few olives…Delicious.
Brussell Sprouts with pancetta, cranberries and pine nuts…those Brussels are in the news again it’s that time of year. Brits love Brussels…
6ounces pancetta, diced medium or bacon.
2lbs Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
Salt and pepper, to taste
3tbspolive oil
1½tbspbalsamic vinegar
⅓cuppine nuts
½cupdried cranberries.
Let’s Cook!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In an oven-safe 12-inch pan over medium heat, cook the pancetta until crisp. Remove with a
slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the Brussels sprouts to the empty skillet, season
with salt and pepper, and cook, tossing occasionally until they start to brown. Remove from the
heat and stir in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Place the skillet in the oven and cook for 15 minutes, tossing once or twice. Increase the oven
temperature to 425 degrees F, stir in the pine nuts and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and stir in the pancetta and dried cranberries.
Enjoy!..
This recipe serves 4-6 people but is quite easy to halve for two of you…
Soup...There is nothing like a warming bowl of homemade soup…want to jazz it up a little make it look extra special then take 1/4 cup and toast the pine nuts, 1/4 cup crème fraîche, some chopped chives, and parsley, A broccoli floret… Garnish the top of your soup and ….Serve.
I hope this has given you some ideas as to how you can spread this little packet of pine nuts a long way…not only are they tasty but they are nutritious…Pine nuts are rich in magnesium, iron, antioxidants, zinc, and protein, which can help with diabetes management, heart health, and brain health…
Any recipe which calls for the addition of nuts then you can substitute other nuts like the Walnut…Both walnut and pine nuts are high in calories, dietary fibre, iron, potassium and protein. Pine nut has more niacin, however, walnut contains more Vitamin B6 and folate. Pine nut is a great source of Vitamin E. Walnut is an excellent source of calcium.
They slightly vary in some nutrients but overall both are good nuts to add to a healthy diet…
The next time you’re at the grocery store, be sure to pick up a pack of these delicious little gems. They may look expensive, but a little goes a long way… as I have demonstrated above…
Thank you for joining me today I hope you have enjoyed reading about the healthy little pine nut and if you want to join in the conversation and leave a comment you are welcome as we love to chat over here and share tips…See you tomorrow for Saturday Snippets it will also be New Years Day and the beginning of another New Year …Carol xx
The magic of Christmas…Do you feel it starting? Presents & Carols & Lights…Oh My!
Only 33 sleeps…Christmas always seems so far away and …
It gets real …
There are many Christmas traditions practiced around the world and I will be bringing you some of those and anyone who wishes to contribute with a guest post of their own on a special Thanksgiving dish or tradition would be very welcome to showcase them here I know my friends across the pond and my relatives celebrate Thanksgiving on the 28th November with turkey and lots of other goodies … So please share your recipes and decorations and I will link back to your post… My email is carolcookstwo@gmail.com
For starters as nobody has given me any links or pictures to their gingerbread houses…I will kick off with the talented Robbies from last year…If you don’t know Robbie she makes the most delicious cakes and has a few books on how to…Her decorations are just awesome so pop over and check them out you will not be disappointed…
“Silent Night” is the most recorded Christmas song in history, with over 733 different versions copyrighted since 1978?
Silent Night is also one of my favourite Christmas Carol’s. Although I love Michael Buble’s version I just love to listen to the Kings College Choir …I also love the German version …Stille Nacht just like Darlene which I will play next week…It is such a beautiful Christmas Carol it has always been a favourite of mine…
The original version Stille Nacht was written 200 years ago, in 1818 by Pastor Joseph Mohr in the small Austrian village of Oberndorf, the music composed by his friend Franz Gruber. This popular song just over 200 years old this Christmas!!
Did you know?
US scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world’s presents on Christmas Eve, traveling at 650 miles a second.
Silent Night...A cocktail…
So what was Silent Night’s original message in 1818?
It seems most Chrismas music at that time was all about the power of the church and the king…Silent Night conveyed the opposite message one of hope for ordinary people…
A popular Carol. It was first translated into English by hymnodist Emily Elliott in 1858, and again by John Freeman Young in 1859.
Since that first performance, the lyrics have been translated into over 100 languages, and merrily sung by carolers all over the world.
Did you know?
Christmas Jumpers…According to Matalan, 82% of people surveyed own a Christmas jumper, with 25-34-year-olds the most likely to buy one. Over 75% of people buy their festive jumper to wear for a work event, whilst over half wear one on Christmas Day.
In the absence of any humans wearing jumpers, this is Franck my son’s dog…A beautiful French bulldog who is such a character and even when he is having fun…he has that face on …It never changes and always makes me smile because I know he is happy inside it is just the face he presents to the world and always cracks me up…He is the most photographed dog I know as he has so many colorful outfits…A bigger wardrobe than me…haha
A recipe…
Many parts of the Christmas tree can actually be eaten, with the needles being a good source of Vitamin C. Pine nuts most of us have heard of them or used them in cookery or eaten as a snack.
The needles can be used to make a tea or syrup which can be used as a glaze for game meats…or the syrup can be used in a gin martini…
Pine pollen can also be gathered and used… many varieties of the pine produce quite bitter pollen but the pollen of the grey pine is apparently quite delicious.
Pine Pollen pasta…
Do you use pine pollen or the pine needles?
Christmas time always promotes Peace on earth...Listen to this TED talk
A heartwarming TED talk…
I hope you have enjoyed this post … my Christmas Treats, traditions and recipes…Thank you for reading and I invite your comments…I love your comments and also always reply xxx
See you later today when it is time for my Culinary tour of the alphabet over @ Esme’s…I can’t believe how time flies I am on the letter V already…so please stick around to see what I have found…xxx Just in case you missed last month’s post…The letter U…
Lastly, remember not everyone is fortunate and some people dread this time of year be aware and if you can add a little cheer please share your joy but also remember the other 364 days of the year pass your smile around and be kind…
About Carol Taylor: Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.
I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.
Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.
Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great weekend 🙂 xx
Retired? No one told me! 