Ninety-five percent of all the walnuts eaten in North America come from you guessed it, California. When the nuts are ready to be harvested they attach a tree shaker which causes the walnuts to fall from the sky like rain. Walnuts in the shell are a messy, delicious treat. Raw, unshelled walnuts should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. They can be broken into fine pieces for baking by rolling them with a rolling pin.
Crushed walnuts sprinkled on cooked vegetables or salads are excellent.
Some enjoy walnuts in rice or pasta dishes, even using them as garnish in soups.