Going nuts...

I think hazelnuts are delicious. I usually eat them covered in chocolate and...well, that's pretty much the only time I eat them. For this year's Thanksgiving dinner I made a hazelnut and mushroom stuffing. I could only find them sold by, what seemed to be, the ton. So I had about half a ton left over after I made the stuffing. I've since been trying to find creative ways to add them to my meals. One thing I've learned, toasted hazelnuts taste good with just about everything. They are buttery without being too heavy and seem to compliment both sweet and savory dishes. So far I've thrown some on top of tarte Tatin a la mode. Future endeavors include: 1) a holiday inspired salad with greens, cranberries and hazelnuts. 2) An easy green bean side dish that will go with any holiday meal. 3) I'm going to experiment with a hazelnut encrusted fish.

First step is to toast your hazelnuts. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spread them out evenly on a sheet pan. Toast them for about 6 minutes but keep an eye on them after 5 minutes. They burn quick!!!! Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. When they are cool enough to handle, grab a handful and rub them between your palms to remove the skin. It should all just flake off.

I am off to a holiday party today. First off the list, the green bean side dish to contribute to their feast. Check back later for the end results. Happy holidays!!!