Cashews

Cashews are edible nuts that are harvested from cashew trees. The nut actually develops at the tip of the tree's fruit which is called a cashew apple. Largely imported from Brazil and India, cashews are exported worldwide and used in many ethnic cuisines.http://www.thenutfactory.com/kitchen/facts/facts-cashews.html

In many countries, cashews are roasted and salted and sold as a snack food.http://www.amazon.com/Dan-D-Pak-World-Salted-Cashews-32-Ounce/dp/B001EPQOF0 Others consume them as an unsalted snack. Still other combine cashews with dried fruits and chocolate pieces for traill mix.

However in other regions, such as South America, India and Asia, cashews are a cooking staple.http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blcashew.htm They are used in exotic recipes such as saffron rice with cashews and raisins, spicy chicken with cashews, cashew chili, and cashew shrimp oriental.http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1718,128189-248197,00.htmlhttp://homecooking.about.com/od/vegetablerecipes/r/blv286.htm

Cashews can also be included in desserts such as caramel cashew brownies, or made into candy such as cashew brittle.http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sweet-dreams/caramel-cashew-brownies-recipe/index.html

Cashews were originally discovered by Portuguese settlers who came upon wild cashew trees during their invasion of Brazil in the 16th century.http://www.thenutfactory.com/kitchen/facts/facts-cashews.html They then exported the nut to East Africa and India, where the trees were planted to help avoid soil erosion.http://www.organiccashewnuts.com/cashewcomefrom.htm

Even though the nuts are now grown in several countries, Brazil remains the world's largest exporter of cashews.

Some nutritionists attribute many health benefits to cashews. The nuts are high in healthy fats, dietary fiber, magnesium, copper and many other essential mineralshttp://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3095/2. Studies have also shown that eating nuts regularly can actually reduce the risk of developing Type II Diabetes, because the nuts work to reduce triglyceride levels.http://www.springerlink.com/content/pw6720666012x201/

1. Make into cashew butter
2. Sprinkle on top of Thai dishes
3. Make classic cashew chickenhttp://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/marcs_cashew_chicken/
4. Roast and eat plain
5. Add to trail mix