Almonds Healthy, Versatile And Fun

Yummy   foods are just that  but usually  bad for you . Healthy foods are good for you but taste like cardboard. However there is a happy medium in the humble almonds. It makes a great nibble but also an interesting addition to meals from breakfast to dinner. Best of all it has so many benefits for almost every inch of your body.

Almonds are one of the oldest nuts around. They are a cousin of a peach , surprisingly and the wild form is highly poisonous, being filled with prussic acid or cyanide.The name comes from the old French almande which derives from the Greek amygdala The Greek name  is also used to described the almonds shaped portion of the brain amygdala. Remnants were found in Jordan as early as 3000, BCE  during the Bronze Age. They are grown throughout Europe and as far north as Iceland. California has the largest almond production in North America. They are eaten the world over from cookies in Italy and China to salted street snacks in Iran. They are also one of the most nutritionally dense foods in the world., being super rich in Vitamin E. They're chock full  of the various Vitamin Bs too and are saturated in five minerals: magnesium, copper, calcium, manganese and potassium.It is lethal to those who have allergies and American almonds are first pasteurized to prevent salmonella. The nut is also made into a milk which is a great alternative to soy and also as a butter similar to peanut butter.

ALmonds can be used in almost every meal. Add some slivered ones to oatmeal or cereal for crunch and flavor. Spiced almonds are always a fun snack to make for yourself or for friends.Toss almonds with cayenne pepper and cumin for a savory nibble with heat. For a sweet crunch sub in cinnamon and stevia or stevia and cocoa powder. You can also first bathe them in a sweet syrup of honey and water first to make the seasonings stick. Almonds are downright yummy in salads. Try an Oriental style one, chock full of  chicken strips, mandarin orange slices and almonds. Another idea is combining almonds , cranberries and blue cheese together with Romaine lettuce and a sweet carrot ginger dressing. Ground almonds are a great low calorie crust for chicken ,fish and even pork One of the most classic dishes is stringbean almondine. This French classic is easy to make  with sauting the nuts and green beans in butter.Almonds are big in Spain and it's evident in their desserts.Try a Mallorcan almond cake, a mix of ground almonds eggs lemon and sugar.It is then baked and served with almond ice cream. Hoemmade almond cookies are also a nice dessert as is the exotic almond pudding which can be made with bananas or peaches.

If you want a tasty and healthy food then eat almonds. They can be a part of your breakfast lunch or dinner. They're a great snack ,plain r spiced and are an elegant ingredient in desserts. Their versatility is boundless, perfect for hoe chefs who want to expand their expertise with healthy ingredients

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