Pic Today 1/4/15

THE CAMEMBERT OF NUTS

The fruit of the Maidenhair Tree (ginkgo biloba)

falls to the ground in early winter,

and is referred to as the "camembert of nuts"

by Asian cooks,

because of its "stinky cheese" soft outer shell.

Although totally edible, with its pungent sweet taste,

it is the inner seed that is prized 

and widely used in Chinese cooking.

Easily squeezed from its soft outer shell,

"gingko nuts" are usually toasted, boiled or stir fried,

and are a familiar seasonal ingredient 

in many Asian dishes.

In addition to their unique flavor,

these nuts are high in minerals and anti-oxidants,

and used as a treatment to prevent Alzheimer's disease.

A popular Chinese sweet dessert

is made from boiled coconut meat and gingko seeds.

(The beautiful gingko tree, with its distinctive

fan-shaped leaves, happens to be my favorite tree.)