Check out our recipe for Toasted Nuts for cooking pointers. Some of the Family Almonds have been eaten for centuries, in fact they are mentioned in the Old Testament. Today, most of the world's supply is grown in California. With their mild flavor, almonds have a place in both sweet and savory dishes from tarts to stir fries. Hazelnuts , also known as Filberts, are grown in the Pacific Northwest but the bulk of the crop comes from Europe and Turkey.
Hazelnuts are a dessert favorite.
To remove their bitter brown skin, bake until the skin cracks then rub the warm hazelnuts with a rough cloth or between your hands. Pecans are a true southern belle. Pecans are the fattiest nut. Peanuts are actually a legume, not a nut. Pine Nuts come from pine cones, which are heated to extract the nuts, hence the hefty price tag at the market.