A Seed Saver's Garden

[flowerbug]

i love pistachios too. well, most nuts i love...

 

[heirloomgal]

i love pistachios too. well, most nuts i love...

Me too. Raw almonds are a favorite go-to snack around here. The only one that I eat and don't enjoy is Brazil nuts, something about that taste is off to me. But I'll eat a little every year for the health benefits. Macadamia nuts are never available, but I have bought macadamia butter and really enjoyed it. But the use is fairly limited aside from a spoonful here and there. Nuts are such a wonderful food, delicious, rich, healthy, high in fiber.

 

[Dahlia]

I'm doing some research on different cookies I want to try this year.

So far DD & I have made Hermits with the true Marasca cherries (the thing maraschinos wanted to be but never were, lol), Coconut Cinnamon Chocolate Chunk, Toffee Bits Chocolate Cookies, Peanut Butter, Gingerbread, Shortbreads, and now I want to find something using freshly shelled pistachios. I shelled a bag of hazelnuts tonight and think I'll toast and use them right before I make the Coffee Cake Strudel I've planned for those. Pumpkin pies are halfway done.

I think I found the perfect recipe; it's mostly pistachios, orange zest, almond flour, egg whites and a little sugar. But what really took me by surprise in searching for a pistachio recipe is I learned this nut is actually explosive and contain highly flammable oils in great concentration. They're a Class 4.2 Substance: 'Spontaneously Combustible Materials' and are considered pyrophoric! Of course this is in big quantities, but it's still pretty wild!
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Yummy! Those look incredible!

 

[heirloomgal]

Yummy! Those look incredible!

I ate my first one tonight. They were absolutely delicious.

 

[Dahlia]

I ate my first one tonight. They were absolutely delicious.

Trader Joe's used to sell a cookie like that. It was very good!

 

[heirloomgal]

To my astonishment I am feeling on top of all the Christmas food preparations, it's wonderful. I am not normally feeling so calm and serene at this point, lol. It really helps that DD is always at my side assisting and even taking over certain recipes. I'm so prepared I even made a nice vegetarian Chile with corn and kidney beans tonight to freeze so we won't have to cook on Christmas Eve. Homemade lasagna prep for Christmas day is done. I was going to make homemade chili powder for it but I managed to find one with all the additions I like and it's perfect. My homemade paprika also made a nice addition.

I've been experimenting with a no-bake cheesecake recipe and have finally tweaked it to exactly how we like it. The first pan was topped with raspberry pie filling, but for Christmas Eve I think I'll try an Oreo version. I love the creaminess of it with the addition of whipped cream and a little sour cream.

In the midst of the cooking bonanza we've been pet sitting for our neighbors across the street; it's quite a troupe they have over there. She worked in cat rescue for a few years and has many to show for it, lol. Some of them are not very social and hide so we don't see them. Most are seniors so we dole out medicines a few times a day, feeling like Dr. Dolittles. We're not around cats much so are enjoying the unique attributes of felines. There's also 2 huge birds, a green parrot and and African Grey. DD was clicker training the green one to touch a target and instead he tried to land a bite with that huge sharp beak. As DD pulled away he loudly squawked 'DON'T BITE!' So...I'm guessing it's wasn't his first time doing that. How lovely.

 

[Dahlia]

To my astonishment I am feeling on top of all the Christmas food preparations, it's wonderful. I am not normally feeling so calm and serene at this point, lol. It really helps that DD is always at my side assisting and even taking over certain recipes. I'm so prepared I even made a nice vegetarian Chile with corn and kidney beans tonight to freeze so we won't have to cook on Christmas Eve. Homemade lasagna prep for Christmas day is done. I was going to make homemade chili powder for it but I managed to find one with all the additions I like and it's perfect. My homemade paprika also made a nice addition.

I've been experimenting with a no-bake cheesecake recipe and have finally tweaked it to exactly how we like it. The first pan was topped with raspberry pie filling, but for Christmas Eve I think I'll try an Oreo version. I love the creaminess of it with the addition of whipped cream and a little sour cream.
View attachment 79137

In the midst of the cooking bonanza we've been pet sitting for our neighbors across the street; it's quite a troupe they have over there. She worked in cat rescue for a few years and has many to show for it, lol. Some of them are not very social and hide so we don't see them. Most are seniors so we dole out medicines a few times a day, feeling like Dr. Dolittles. We're not around cats much so are enjoying the unique attributes of felines. There's also 2 huge birds, a green parrot and and African Grey. DD was clicker training the green one to touch a target and instead he tried to land a bite with that huge sharp beak. As DD pulled away he loudly squawked 'DON'T BITE!' So...I'm guessing it's wasn't his first time doing that. How lovely.

OMG that dessert looks so good! My daughter made a really yummy cheesecake a few weeks ago that had a creamy blended berry layer on the top. Oh so good!