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  Edible Nuts of the World  | Nutritional Facts

Almonds

Queen of the rose family

related to apples, pears, prunes, raspberries, and many more eatable fruits

 

The almond is a round-headed bushy tree 20 to 30 feet tall.   The almond has been grown in the Mediterranean countries for centuries.   They require exact climate and California is the only state that can successfully grow almonds.

The almond is self-sterile so an orchard must have trees of more than one variety to pollinate.  The largest variety is the Nonpareil variety and it is the most sought after.  The next most common is the California variety closely followed by the Mission and the Neplus varieties

Apricot

The seed of the apricot is a cousin of the almond.  it is smaller and it tastes more bitter, but it is a health additive and many people believe it has curing properties.

 

The Chinese Almond

Foreigners in China are often served almond cake.  One of the main ingredients of this cake are sweet kernels, but they are of the apricot and not the almond.  These CHINESE ALMONDS are really the kernels of the prunus armeniaca apricot which is grown exclusively in China for its seeds.   There are several varieties of apricots that produce the seeds.  The pits are also known as apricot "stones.   There is also a "wild peach" grown in Nerchinsk, Siberia which contains an extremely sweet pit.

:Cocoplums
Icaco    A tree-like shrub growing wild in in Africa, along the shores of South America, and in Florida.  The variety in Jamaica has a large nut enclosing a kernel with a delicious flavor.   The cocoplum fruit is smooth and attractive while on the plant, but the skin is so thin and the white cottony pulp is so soft that picking and handling leaves the fruit dented and misshapen.  

Preserved cocoplums are a popular native product.   The fruits are usually cooked and peeled, sugar is added, and the color turns deep purple.   To preserve the nut, a ice pick is driven through the nut kernel.  This allows the syrup mixture to penetrate.  The nut center is later peeled and heated with the fruit mixture.  Jams and jellies may also be made from the cocoplum.

Parinari     Tropical East Africa    60 kind of Parinari trees exist.  Some have edible seeds.  The fruits and kernels are eaten in various parts of tropical Africa.  The fruit-pulp is of pleasant flavor and often thought to be one of the best of African wild fruits..  The shell is thick.   Both the pulp and the kernels are used for food in west Nile and Madi..

     

 

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Chocolate Caramels

a thoughtful gift

2-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup water
1 cup light cream
1 cup butter 2 sticks)
3 squares unsweetened chocolate
1-1/2 oz piece parafin cut into small pieces (1-1/2" squares)

Combine all ingredients into a 4 quart heavy saucepan.  Stir and cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and butter and parafin are melted.  reduce heat to low, stir occasionally, until mixture reaches 240 degrees. (about 40 minutes)

Continue stirring continuously and vigorously to prevent scorching, to a firm ball stage. (248 degrees).  (another 20 minutes)

Remove from heat and pour into a lightly buttered 9" square pan.   When candy gets firm, mark into 3/4" strips with a knife.  When candy is cool and firm (about 3 hours) cut into strips, remove strips from pan, and cut into squares.  wrap individually with waxed paper.  Makes about 120 caramels or 2-1/2 pounds.

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Little known facts

Caramel and Butterscotch are made in similar ways to toffee, as is fudge. The difference is in the degree of boiling temperature and the ways in which they are cooled. This whole process uses high-heat to convert sugar. Crystallization, graininess, and whether it is brittle or smooth are simply variations of this process.

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Half a century of fun

The Nut Factory started in 1952 as a roaster of peanuts. We are located in Spokane, Washington. Over the years The Nut Factory has grown into a large snack food manufacturer. We ship over 400 product every day to businesses everywhere throughout the United States.

Our history

Other interesting web sites

The Cook's Thesaurus Has Substitutions for Thousands of Ingredients

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