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Showing posts with label Walnut. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Walnut. Show all posts

♂ Raw Nuts (Cashew Almond Walnut Peanut Brazil) - Where To Buy?


Many readers wrote to me and asked where I usually get raw cashews, almonds, walnuts and other types of nuts in Singapore, here is what you ask for. I got most of my non-organic nuts from Mustafa Center, I realised it is much cheaper compared to those from provisional shop and even Pasir Panjang Wholesale CenterUncle Cook's is the in-house brands of Mustafa and the nuts are mainly from USA and Brazil.

Nuts are great whole food that provide numerous beneficial health qualities, it is high in protein, fibre and good fats for lowering bad cholesterol, reducing inflammation and good for the heart.

I always stock up 1kg of each type of nuts in my store. I used these nuts substantially in my vegan baking and cooking, or simply roast it to make a prefect healthy movie snack, simply endless use of these nuts! Refer below where I elaborate more about my usage for each type of nuts.

Storage tips: Everyone knows this theory that the bigger the quantity you buy, the more the value for money, but make sure you know the proper way to store these goodies. Nuts have a high oil content and this leads to a quick break down when left at room temperature, and they spoil more quickly in warmer climates like Singapore. Nuts are good at room temperature for about one week when opened but they need to be sealed airtight and refrigerated to maintain freshness.  It is difficult to detect if the nuts are gone bad, however some tell-tale signs are they are soft when chewed or the taste may change altogether. To refresh them again, just toast them for a few minutes in Airfryer or oven, click here for the steps.



Uncle Cook's: California Almonds
I usually substitute macadamia, hazelnuts with almond in baking because it is more affordable in Asia, and because it has a really awesome nutty fragrance.

Where to buy?
☼ Almond Nuts
Product of USA

SGD18.80 for 1kg.
Also available in size of 250g and 500g.
Available at Mustafa Center, Singapore.


Uncle Cook's: King of Cashew
I never know cashew nuts can used in so many ways in vegan cooking and baking until I started to have my own kitchen. Cashew are the most widely used nuts in my pantry. I used it for making vegan cream cheese, non-bake cheesecakes and some other vegan baking, and making Vegan Tuna that tastes better than real tuna. I also use it in soup recipes to replace diary milk.

Where to buy?
☼ Cashew Nuts
Product of Brazil

SGD11.90 for 1kg.
Also available in size of 250g and 500g. 
Available at Mustafa Center, Singapore.
 



Uncle Cook's: California Walnuts
Apart from pine nuts, walnut is one of those that are more expensive especially in Asia. Usually I only use in baking recipes that call specifically for walnuts e.g. vegan carrot walnut cake which cannot be replaced with almond.

Where to buy?
☼ Walnuts
Product of USA
SGD12.40 for 500g.
SGD23.90 for 1kg.
Also available in size of 250g.
Available at Mustafa Center, Singapore.
 
There are also many other types of nuts available at Mustafa Center:
  • Peanut - SGD2.20 for 500g
  • Hazelnut- SGD13.50 for 500g
  • Brazil nut - SGD10.90 for 500g
  • Pine nut
  • Pecan - SGD17.90 for 500g
  • Pistachios - SGD19.90 for 1kg
  • .. and you name it, they have it!
* Information and prices stated are correct as of August 2014.
    ☆ Click here to see what other products I regularly get from Mustafa Center.

    http://veggietemptation.blogspot.sg/search/label/Where%20To%20Buy%20This%3F
    Learning a new cuisine is actually not that challenging, it is the process of understanding & finding the ingredients in your area which is tedious and time-consuming. Thus, I am most willing to share with readers (Singapore, Malaysia and international) where I get the most value-for-money ingredients that are slightly uncommon. See more of the great, affordable & healthy stuff I am always get.
     

    Vegan Savoury Mushroom Muffins

     

     

     
    We heard all sorts of muffin, but how often have you heard of mushroom muffin? This savoury snack can be served with vegetable soup for a light quick meal and breakfast. I love the earthy smell that filled the whole kitchen when I'm baking them, feels like heaven! This whole grain muffin is not only low in fat and calories, it is also healthy and rich in vitamins and minerals, perfect! My muffin top look kinda hard because I did not put enough oil, LOL, but the inside is still moist. Will update the photos when I bake another batch of these cuties!

    Dietary: Vegetarian, Vegan.
    Make 12 mini muffin
    Slightly adapted from this book.

    Ingredients
     2 Tbsp + 3/4 tsp or 37.5ml olive oil, divided
     125g fresh shiitake/button mushroom, chopped (or any mushroom with woodsy scent)
     Salt, divided
     Freshly ground black pepper, divided

     3/4 cup or 180ml non-dairy milk (I use soy milk)
     1/2 Tbsp white distilled vinegar

     1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
     1 1/4 tsp baking powder
     1/4 tsp baking soda
     1/2 tsp dried thyme
     1/4 cup or 30g walnuts, chopped
     
    Method
    1. Heat up 2 teaspoons (10ml) of oil in a non-stick large skillet. Sauté mushroom for about 10 minutes or until tender and liquid evaporates. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set side to cool.
     
    2. Preheat the oven to 190℃ .
     
    3. Combine the milk and vinegar (buttermilk's substitute) and let the mixture incorporate. Set aside for at least 5 minutes.
     
    4. In a mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and thyme. Add pinch of salt and pepper.  
     
    5. Whisk remaining oil into the milk mixture until smooth. Add liquid mixture to the flour mixture and stir until well combined. Gently fold in mushroom mixture and walnuts.
     
    6. Pour the batter into a prepared mini muffin cups.
     
    7. Using a oven thermometer, ensure it is at the right temperature 190℃. Pop it into the oven for about 20-25 minutes or till the top looks cooked. Begin testing doneness shortly after 20 minutes. Insert a toothpick, if it comes out clean, it's done!
     
    8. Let cool in pan for 3 minutes, then transfer to the rack to cool slightly, serve warm! 
     
    Shiitake mushroom
    Mushroom, chopped.
    Batter
    

    ♂ Whole Wheat Pastry Flour - Where To Buy?

    When it comes to baking and cooking, it is strictly no refined flour for me, especially when we already have enough of these when we are eating out. Why is refined white flour so bad? Read below. Baking with whole wheat is not as easy as baking with refined flour because of the lack of gluten, but this whole wheat pastry solve this problem.
     
    Do not confuse whole wheat pastry  flour with the regular whole wheat flour. Whole wheat pastry flour is milled from low-protein soft spring wheat, whereas regular whole wheat flour is milled from hard red wheat. The softer wheat has a lower protein content than wheat and makes a desirable flour for pastry baking.  
     
    How to use?
    I have been swearing by whole wheat pastry flour when it comes to baking, literally all sorts of baking like muffin, donuts, cookies, cakes etc, basically anything in baking. It can be used to replace any all-purpose, plain and cake flour in the recipe, 1 for 1. Check out my list of baking recipes using whole wheat pastry flour. Hey, baking can be healthy too. Ditch those refined all-purpose and plain flour, get healthy today! Trust me, no one can tell the difference, LOL.
     
    These are the two brands that are the most value-for-money I found in Singapore.
    
    TOP's Brand - Organic Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
    Where to buy?
    SGD2.30 for 500gm.
    Available at:-
    ☼ Yes Natural Organic
    Location: Clementi & Geylang, Singapore.
    ☼ Organic Paradise
    Location: Cuppage Plaza #01-25/27 Singapore 228796
    
    Bob's Red Mill - Organic Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
    Where to buy?
    In Singapore
    SGD3.00 at 680g. (Equivalent to SGD2.20 per 500g)
    Available at Mustafa Center, Singapore.
    Exact location: Level 2, Row 9-11.
     
    Also available at a higher price at about SGD4.90.
    I have seen it at:-
    Giant Hyper @ Vivo City
    Cold Storage @ Peninsula Plaza

    Notice the vast difference in price between in Mustafa and the rest of the supermarket Click here to see what other products I regularly get from Mustafa.


    Online
    ☼ SGD10.51 at 2.27kg (Equivalent to SGD2.30 per 500g)
    Available at iHerb.

    ☼ USD8.69 at 2.27kg
    Available at Amazon.
     
    Differences Between Whole Wheat and Refined Wheat/White Flour 
    We are all aware that refined white/bread flour are harmful. During the refining process, whole wheat grain are heavily processed that almost all the vitamins, minerals and protein are lost. Even if it is enriched flour, it only adds few vitamins and nothing else.  During the refining process, the endosperm is the only portion of the grain used to make white breads, pastas etc. When the bran and germ are removed, one quarter of the protein content is lost, along with several key nutrients.
    Whole wheat grains are power packed with nutrients that are made up of the entire or "whole" grain, including the bran, germ, and endosperm.

    Here's a snapshot to let you have a good understanding. To read more about the refined flour, click here. Would you pay extra for the whole wheat flour instead? Oh, hell yes for me!

     
    Harmful Effects But Truth of Refined Flour
     • Nutritional loss from whole wheat grains
     • Rise in insulin
     • Glycaemic Index (GI) disorders
     • Inflammation
     • Food cravings
     • Metabolic slowdown
     • Food allergies/Intolerances
     • Acid-alkaline imbalance
     • Fattening
     • Natural insecticide
     
    Main Benefits of Whole Grains
     • Stroke risk reduced
     • Type 2 diabetes risk reduced
     • Heart disease risk reduced
     • Better weight maintenance
     • Asthma risk reduced
     • Healthier carotid arteries
     • Inflammatory disease risk reduced
     • Lower risk of colorectal cancer
     • Healthier blood pressure levels
     • Less gum disease and tooth loss
     
    http://veggietemptation.blogspot.sg/search/label/Where%20To%20Buy%20This%3F
    Learning a new cuisine is actually not that challenging, it is the process of understanding & finding the ingredients in your area which is tedious and time-consuming. Thus, I am most willing to share with readers (Singapore, Malaysia and international) where I get the most value-for-money ingredients that are slightly uncommon. See more of the great, affordable & healthy stuff I am always get.


     
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