Happy winter, everyone!
Are you enjoying this winter weather? Over here in BC, we got a lovely snowfall this week. And my pups are in bliss! Although it can be difficult for many people to get over the winter blues, as an introvert, I find this is a great time to relax, restore, and plan for sunny day adventures!
I know from experience that a lot of people in North America can develop Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD leads to feeling unmotivated, which is understandable since we are supposed to be hibernating right now! Plus, the rise of social media and seeing influencers doing so many things can create serious FOMO and allow people to delve deeper into that depressive state. It can be a vicious cycle and create a downward spiral. Trust me, I've been there and am still working on getting out of that negative self-talk.
Side note: I will make a "2023 Eat the Cupboard" follow-up. It may take some time since I have a backlog of recipes. Something to look forward to, so stay tuned!
So, for today's recipe, I have something simple, versatile, and low-maintenance to help you feel accomplished for the day without laboring in the kitchen for hours. We do not need those holiday season flashbacks!
Sweet Spiced Walnuts **Please see revisions below
Time: 1 hour Makes: 4 servings Cost per serving: $0.77*
Ingredients:
1 cup of walnuts (whole pieces, soaked in water overnight)
1 tablespoon coconut powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of Himalayan salt
1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon of ground cardamom
Pinch of ground black pepper
Instructions:
Drain the water from the walnuts that you soaked overnight. Drain as much of the liquid as possible.
Preheat the oven to 200 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Use a fork to crush up any coconut powder sugar clumps.
Dump the walnuts in the middle of the baking sheet. Add the dry mixture on top of the walnuts. Use your hands to coat the walnuts evenly.
Spread the walnuts on the baking sheet so they don't touch each other. Doing this will allow for an even baking/drying of the spices.
**Place in the oven for 30 minutes. When the walnuts have a crunch to them, they are ready. If they are still chewy and soft, bake for 5-10 minutes to achieve a crunchy texture. At that point, you can turn off the oven and leave them in so they can continue to dry for 20-30 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven. At this point, you will see the center of the walnuts have a cracked texture to them. That means they are dry!
Allow them to cool before transferring to another container.
And there you have it, a heart-healthy, easy snack to keep you satisfied and on track.
As for versatility, you can apply this to walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, and much more. Just be careful of baking time so you don't burn the nuts, and keep the temperature low to ensure you aren't oxidizing them!
Some delicious spice blends to try:
Cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and crushed dill
Parsley flakes, herbal salt, and mustard powder
Garlic powder, ground black pepper, and chili powder
What are some of your favorite flavor combinations? Have you been creating changes to help you fulfill a happy and healthy life?
I look forward to hearing your suggestions.
Until then, snack happy and stay well!
Chloe
RHN, CH, CPT
*Prices may vary, depending on where you shop.
**REVISION
Hi everyone, unfortunately, mistakes were made the first go around! I apologize if you did this recipe prior to the revisions and ended up with moldy walnuts. I know they aren't inexpensive, and it is a shame to waste them. The silver lining, for me at least, is that our compost is getting a flavor boost. Here's hoping the worms like my spice blend!
For me, I noticed white spots around day three and stopped eating them on that day. I didn't get ill from them, but for those of you who have sensitive stomachs, I hope you didn't cause any issues.
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