Almonds
Although almonds do have fat in them, it is actually mono saturated fat, which is great for your heart, and there is solid evidence that including a handful of almonds in your daily diet can have a significant impact on heart health.
Almonds are highly nutritious and rich in these healthy fats, as well as containing antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
The almonds you buy in the shops usually have the shell removed and are sold either raw or roasted, but just look around you here in the P-O for those fresh almonds trees dripping with almonds…and help yourself as long as it’s not in somebody’s garden or on private land of course!!
Almonds are also a great source of antioxidants, concentrated in the brown layer of their skin, which can help to protect against inflammation, aging, and various diseases. The white or blanched almonds therefore have less health benefits.
Eating two or three almonds before meals has been shown to decrease after-meal surges in blood sugar, lowering the risk of developing diabetes.
Studies have shown that almonds can…
…help manage blood pressure.
…lower cholesterol levels
…assist with blood sugar control
…reduces hunger & help with weight loss
Healthy and delicious! Enjoy!
Simple Amandine tart
A teatime treat baked on rare rainy days by Kate’s husband, Olivier!
Ingredients
– Shortcrust pastry for base (pâte sablée from supermarket)
– 150g almond powder (poudre d’amande)
– 100g brown sugar
– 1/2 tspoon almond extract (amande amère)
– 2 eggs 50g butter 1-2 tspoons cognac, rhum etc (optional)
– sliced almonds (amandes effilées )
Preheat oven to 180°C (Thermostat 6).
Mix softened butter with sugar, stir in beaten eggs and almond powder.
Add almond extract, and cognac if required.
If mixture is too solid, add a little cream until good pouring texture, not too liquid.
Grease a cake tin, line with pastry base, puncture with fork, and spread on a thin layer of raspberry jam.
Pour in mixture, sprinkle on sliced almonds and bake for around 30 – 40 mins.
ENJOY!
Sounds a bit like a Catalán Bakewell tart. Will try it soon.
GREAT TARTE!!! Love almonds. Have a cookie one you might like too and will try to post it here.
What a wonderful recipe !
I finally got around to trying this recipe which is really simple to do.
The tarte is so delicious and will go down well on any occasion.
Thank you for sharing.