#walnut halves

[askwhatsforlunch]

Honey and Walnut Crêpes

Technically, today is when the Festive Season ends. Today is Candlemas or Chandeleur in France, where we celebrate it lighting candles all over the house and flipping crêpes with a coin in the hand (to ensure prosperity throughout the year!) And these sweet Honey and Walnut Crêpes are a simple but tasty afternoon treat! Bonne Chandeleur!

Ingredients (serves 2):

1/3 cup walnut halves

4 heaped teaspoons good pure, raw honey 

2  Crêpes

In a small skillet over a high flame, toast walnuts until fragrant. Remove from the heat, let cool slightly, and chop roughly, saving two whole. Set aside.

Heat one of the Crêpes in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spread two teaspoons of the honey over the hot Crêpe, and sprinkle with about halve of the chopped toasted walnuts. Fold Crêpe in four and serve onto a plate. Sprinkle with a little more chopped walnuts, a whole walnut, and drizzle with more honey.

Repeat with remaining Crêpe, honey and walnuts.

Serve Honey and Walnut Crêpes hot, with chilled Cider or Pine Needle Tea!

[askwhatsforlunch]

Maple and Walnut Porridge

When I wake up to grey skies and falling rain, I want something hearty and comforting for breakfast. And I don’t know anything cosier than a steaming bowl of porridge. It doesn’t take long to prepare, perfect for a work day, and can be delicious, like this Maple and Walnut Porridge!

Ingredients (serves 1):

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 cup skimmed milk

1/2 teaspoon ve

nutmeg

1/4 walnut halves

1/2 tablespoon demerara sugar

1 tablespoon pure (Grade A) Canadian Maple Syrup

In a medium saucepan, combine rolled oats and 3/4 of the milk. Stir in ve, and grate in about 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.

Heat over a low flame, stirring often until mixture thickens.

Roughly chop walnuts, saving one or two whole. Add two-thirds of the chopped walnuts to the porridge Gradually stir in remaining milk, demerara sugar, and half of the Maple Syrup, and cook to your liking (longer for a thicker porridge).

Spoon porridge into serving bowl. Scatter reserved chopped and whole walnuts on top and drizzle with remaining Maple Syrup. 

Enjoy Maple and Walnut Porridge immediately.

[askwhatsforlunch]

Walnut Banana Bread

You may have noticed that I love banana bread. But more than that, there’s also something utterly fascinating, I find, about turning bananas which have become inedible into something delicious. Well, that one banana today, gave us a Walnut Banana Bread so moist and scrumptious, there almost wasn’t any left to take photographic evidence!

Ingredients (makes a medium loaf):

2 tablespoons Honey Butter

1 cup walnut halves

3/4 cup whole-meal flour

1/2 cup plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 large, ripe banana

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon Homemade Vanilla Extract

2 large eggs

1/2 cup Greek Yogurt

Preheat oven to 205°C/400°F. Butter a loaf pan, and line with baking paper; set aside.

Melt Honey Butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Then remove from heat, and let cool.

Place half of the walnuts in a mortar, and grind with the pestle until finely ground. Add remaining walnuts and roughly grind, to leave a bit of texture to them. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine wholemeal fllour, plain flour and baking powder. Give a good stir.

In a larger bowl, thoroughly mash banana with a fork. Stir in brown sugar and Vanilla Extract, until well-blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Then, stir in Greek yogurt. Finally, gently fold in flour mixture, ground walnuts and melted Honey Butter, until just blended. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake, at 180°C/355°F, until  a lovely dark brown colour on top. Remove from the oven, and let cool slightly before removing from the loaf pan.

Serve Walnut Banana Bread with tea or coffee.

[partway-mist]

With or without frosting, this flavor is delectably rich. For a fancy touch, garnish with halves of walnuts.

[what-marsha-eats]

Hausfreunde Recipe

Food & Wine’s chocolate-dipped hausfreunde are the perfect Christmas cookies.

[what2cook]

Recipe for French Chocolate Cheesecake - Served with caramel sauce this delicious French Chocolate Cheesecake is sure to please all the chocolate lovers in your family!