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Oh, Nuts!

Oh Nuts!

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I’ve got nothing but big love for Oh Nuts.  Big, huge, colossal love.  For one thing, I’m the biggest nut lover in the world and for another, they recently sent me two huge bags of walnuts and pecans to review for the food blog. Seriously, if they ever come up with a word that means bigger than big and larger than large – it’ll describe my love for Oh Nuts.

These people know all there is to know about nuts and the proof is in the pudding… rather the proof is in the nuts.

My favorite nut happens to be the Heavenly pecan, but I’ve never met one I didn’t like.  I’ll be adding a few nut-licious recipes to the blog over the coming days – all in honor of my new buddies at Oh Nuts.  The first one stars my much beloved pecans, but I’m sure you saw that one coming.

When you purchase 1 lb bags of walnuts or pecans from Oh Nuts, you’ll flip over the convenient bag they come in almost as much as you do the delicious nuts. Almost.  The bags are great looking, for one thing, and for another they’re extremely easy to get in and out of…. which is a GREAT thing for snackers like me!  I knew I wanted to use the nuts for holiday recipes, but I found myself repeatedly getting into the bags for convenient, delicious, healthy snacks.

Oh Nuts actually has more than just nuts. A LOT more.  You could, literally, do the majority of your Christmas shopping on this one website – and do it today for free shipping. Below are just some of the great things you’ll find on Oh Nuts:

  • Nuts (you didn’t think I’d leave them out, did you?)
  • Candy
  • Dried Fruit
  • Chocolate
  • Baking Supplies
  • Baking Goods
  • Gift Sets
  • Gift Boxes
  • Ice Cream
  • Ice Pops
  • And more!

See Oh Nuts for more information. Trust me, they’ll blow you away.


Pecan and Chocolate Chip Cookies

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This book review and recipe were written and posted before I had to give up gluten and wheat and before I dedicated the food blog to gluten-free recipes. I feel it’s only fair to leave the post up since they were kind enough to send me the book! It is not a gluten-free cookbook, however, and the recipe below is certainly not gluten-free. I normally substitute gluten-free flour and other ingredients when dealing with traditional recipes but cannot personally vouch (not yet anyway!) for how these would turn out with gluten-free flour.

Make the most amazing Christmas cookies ever this year! Many of these cookies would also make exceptional gifts or additions to Thanksgiving or Holiday gift baskets.

My inner cookie monster recently had cause to celebrate and did so by eating a chocolate chip cookie.  I was sent a gorgeous cookbook called One Sweet Cookie: Celebrated Chefs Share Favorite Recipes and it’s my pleasure to do so now.

This beautiful cookie cookbook features cookie recipes that are probably already some of your favorite types of cookies:

  • Snickerdoodles
  • Orange Cookies
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Monster Cookies
  • Sandys
  • Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Thumbprint Cookies
  • Sugar Cookies

However, they’re sure to be the BEST recipe you’ve ever tried for each of these cookies.  You see, the cookie recipes in this book are from extraordinary chefs, pastry chefs and bakers – the best the world has to offer. These include Lidia Bastianich, Terrance Brennan, Laurent Tourondel, Jacques Torres, Mario Batali, and others. Cream of the crop!

In addition to cookies you’ve no doubt heard of, there are MANY amazing cookie recipes that will literally blow your mind before you ever even bake them:

  • Pecan and Chocolate Cookies
  • Pink Swirl and Dusted Meringues
  • Wicked Chocolate Biscotti
  • Coconut-Nutella-Almond Macaroons (one look at the picture and I wanted to weep with joy)
  • Petits Fours De Noel
  • City Bakery Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
  • Crazy Cowboy Cookies (from Chef Batali and his son)
  • Raspberry Granola Bars
  • Fig Squares (think Fig Newtons from a Culinary Institute)
  • Cheesecake Brownies
  • Cheesecake Brownies
  • Cheesecake Brownies… Sorry, but the concept of chocolate AND cheesecake teaming up is worth mentioning more than once. Or twice.
  • Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
  • …. and many more, but I’m getting too weak in the knees to go on!

Pecan and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes About 18 Large or 36 Small Cookies

11 ounces 66 percent chocolate (such as Valrhona Caraibe)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 large eggs
1 cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup 70 percent chocolate chips (such as Valrhona Caraibe) (optional)
1/2 cup pecan pieces (optional)

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees.  Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper.

In the top of a double boiler over low heat, melt the 66 percent chocolate and butter.  Remove the mixture from the heat and set aside to cool for a few minutes.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar.  Add the chocolate mixture, then the flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix just until combined.

Remove the bowl from the mixer, and fold in the chocolate chips and pecans (if using).

Shape the batter into balls the size of golf balls, and arrange them on the prepared pans.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of each cookie.  The edges will feel done, but the centers will feel slightly undone.  Cool completely on wire racks.

Read more about One Sweet Cookie: Celebrated Chefs Share Favorite Recipes by clicking the link.