Nuts. They're All nuts!

I have been roasting my own nuts for a while, but with the raw food thing I couldn't cook them. I decided to experiment with raw nuts and my spice mixtures and they turned out great. As a matter of fact, the spicy ones are better than my cooked ones because the spices come through better. The difference between cooked and raw is strictly texture. The cooked ones have a crispier texture. The other difference is that the raw nuts have a much fresher flavor. So here's the way I make them.

Costco's mix nut jugs work good for mixing and storing. I use a mixture of almonds, walnuts and pecans. I fill the jug about 2/3rds the way and then add 1 tsp of water to the nuts put the lid on and gently shake the nuts to get them all a little wet. Next add whatever spices you like. I make 2 types - salt and pepper and spicy. For the salt and pepper I add maybe a tbsp of each and I run sea salt through my spice grinder (little coffee grinder) until it is very fine. Replace the lid and gently shake to add seasoning to all the nuts then pour them onto a cookie sheet to dry a couple of minutes and wipe the container out with a paper towel. Store in the container and enjoy.

For the spicy I use fine sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, fine dried parsley and oregano, cumin, black pepper, and my homemade chili powder (if using store bought chili powder add cayenne). You need to add 1tsp of salt with the spice blend on the nuts.

You quickly get used to the texture difference and enjoy the taste difference.

I love smokehouse almonds, but they have enough sodium to kill you and they're cooked so After some experimenting I found my own recipe with much less sodium. You need to buy some Liquid Smoke - available at most grocery stores. Take your almonds (I use a 16 oz ball jar) and fill container 2/3rds of the way. Add 1/4 tsp of the liquid smoke to 1/2 tsp of water and pour on the nuts. Close and shake to coat and add 1/2 tsp (more or less to taste) to the jar and shake some more. Put on cookie sheet to dry for 5 minutes. Clean out jar and store nuts in the jar. These guys are good! If you want more smoky add more liquid smoke and vice verse.

Now you all know everything I know about nuts. If one of you makes some smokehouse pistachios or hazelnuts that taste good let me know and I'll try them as well.

More soon. 2 days left after today!