Ingredients

4 oz butter, softened
1 c firmly packed light brown sugar
2 extra large egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 c all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 c unsalted cashew nuts, coarsely chopped
3 oz white chocolate, coarsely chopped

1. Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line an 8X8 square pan with aluminum foil, letting it hang about 2 inches over the sides.  Butter the foil generously.

2. Place butter in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Use the flat beater to beat the butter until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and cream well, another 2 minutes.

3. With a fork, beat the eggs in a small bowl and mix in the extracts.   Add to the butter mixtiure and blend well.

4. Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt.  In three stages, add to the butter mixture, blending well after each addition.  Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

5. Add the nuts and white chocolate and stir with a rubber spatula to distribute evenly.

6. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and use the rubber spatula to spread it evenly into the corners.  Bake the blondies for 28 to 30 minute until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out with no crumbs clinging to it. Remove the pan from the oven and cool completely on a rack.

7. Lift the blondies from the pan with the aluminum foil. Carefully peel the foil away. Cut into squares.

The recipe is from ishotthechef and makes 9-16 blondies, depending on the size you cut them.

Ingredientes para o bolo:

150g de manteiga sem sal, amolecida

165g de açúcar mascavo

1 ovo

1 gema

150g de farinha de trigo, peneirada

1 colher (chá) de fermento em pó

¼ xícara de leite integral, temperatura ambiente

Caramelo de nuts:

2/3 xícara (133g) de açúcar refinador

1/3 xícara (80ml) de água

1 colher (sopa) de 14g de manteiga sem sal, temperatura ambiente

1/3 xícara (80ml) de creme de leite fresco

2/3 xícara de nuts variadas (castanhas de caju, amêndoas, nozes, pecãs, etc.)

Pré-aqueça o forno a 180°C. Unte com manteiga uma forma redonda de 18cm, forre o fundo com papel manteiga e unte o papel também.

Coloque a manteiga e o açúcar mascavo na tigela grande da batedeira e bata por 8-10 minutos ou até obter um creme claro e fofo. Junte o ovo e a gema e bata bem. Junte a farinha e o fermento em pó e bata até incorporá-los. Com o auxílio de uma espátula de silicone, misture o leite.

Transfira a massa às colheradas para a forma preparada e asse até que cresça e doure, cerca de 1 hora (faça o teste do palito). Retire do forno, deixe esfriar na forma sobre uma gradinha por 20 minutos, e então desenforme com cuidado, colocando-o sobre a gradinha. Deixe esfriar completamente e transfira para o prato de servir – de preferência um prato com bordinhas altas para que a cobertura não escorra.

Prepare o caramelo: misture o açúcar e a água numa panelinha de fundo grosso e leve ao fogo médio, mexendo somente até dissolver o açúcar – não mexa mais depois disso, apenas gire a panela vez ou outra. Cozinhe por 6-8 minutos ou até obter um caramelo. Retire do fogo e gentilmente acrescente a manteiga e o creme de leite, mexendo bem – cuidado pois o caramelo vai borbulhar bastante e pode espirrar. Junte as nuts e derrame a mistura imediatamente sobre o bolo.

A receita é da technicolorkitchen, adaptada da  Donna Hay magazine  e rende de 4 a 6 porções.

Whether in summer or winter, it is important to keep your legs nice and well cared for. In addition to exfoliate, moisturize and exercise to have healthy and smooth legs, it is necessary to pay attention to what you eat, since some foods can contribute to the appearance of spider veins and cellulite.

Foods that should be eaten

Plenty of fluids every day: water, juice and tea helps to detoxify and have low calorie. A nut per day: cashew nuts, Brazil nuts, almonds and walnuts. Foods rich in iodine such as artichokes, lettuce, seaweed, rice, potatoes, onions, peas, egg yolk, cabbage and green beans. Fresh fruits neutralize toxins from the body. Foods that have a detoxifying action are beans, lentils, soybeans, chickpeas and green leaves.

What should be avoided

It is indicated to decrease the amount of salt, avoid soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and processed sauces and condiments to prevent the swelling and fluid retention. Beverages containing caffeine such as coffee, black tea and mate. Avoid refined carbohydrates like candy and pasta made with white flour and greasy foods like fried foods, fatty meats, cookies, bacon, pizza and ice cream. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.

Information from Saude Plena.

Certain food can stimulate substances on the body that are responsible for regulating mood. The selenium present in nuts and seafood can help to improve mood, since its lack in the body can cause depression.

Carbohydrates facilitate the entry of larger amount of tryptophan in the brain, where it is transformed into serotonin (a neurotransmitter known as "calming chemical"). The sucrose (simple sugar) present in candies helps to release endorphins, explaining why people in periods of stress tend to eat more candies.

Folic acid is a potent antidepressant, found in green leafy vegetables and some legumes. When this nutrient is reduced in the body can reduce brain levels of serotonin. But it is worth remembering also that large amounts of this nutrient can be toxic. Other foods that contain folic acid are meat and whole grains.

Not to increase the bad mood, avoid excess of caffeine, alcohol and foods containing a lot fat, because stress impairs the functioning of the digestive system.

Information is from the website RG nutri.

Chestnuts

Benefits: Omega-3 fats, which helps to prevent heart disease. They also have selenium, an antioxidant essential for brain function.

Calories: The calorific value on average is 656.0 Kcal per 100 grams.

Nuts

Benefits: These are the richest in vitamin E which has antioxidant and helps in the formation of red blood cells and muscle tissue. It also protects from heart disease. The nuts are sources of potassium and vitamin B.

Calories: On average, nuts have 651.0 Kcal per 100 grams.

Almonds and hazelnuts

Benefits: Almonds are rich in vitamin E. Hazelnuts, besides vitamin E, are also rich in calcium.

Calories: Both have an average of 589.0 Kcal per 100 grams.

Information is from rg nutri website.

Cashew nut shell is being used in sustainable production of clothing for a textile company called Vicunha. The cashew nut shell helps to generate thermal energy to produce steam to heat the boilers.

By reusing the shells of cashew nuts (2.3 thousand tons of residues per month) for 10 years, the environment is preserved. The residues are not dumped in landfills, preventing that approximately 10 000 tons of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere per month.

The company has teamed up with global NGO Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), in support of sustainable production of cotton.

Information is from Revista Fator.

How about a new recipe that is delicious and practical? Rice with cashew nuts is very easy to prepare and besides having a distinctive taste, the golden cashew nuts in contrast with the white rice add a special touch to your table.

Ingredients:

- 3 cups of rice

- 1 and a half cup of chopped cashew nuts

- 4 tablespoons of butter

- Salt

Preparation:

Cook the rice as usual. In a pan add the butter and cashew nuts, which can be chopped in a blender or knife, but be careful not to grind, the pieces of cashew nuts will give the special touch. Stir for 6-8 minutes until it gets golden brown.

In a dish put a layer of rice and nuts, alternately separating some nuts to add lastly. You can leave the layers or mix everything. At the final decorate with nuts.

The recipe is from the website Terra.

A different idea for Easter is the Cashew Nut Parfait. It is quick and easy to prepare. It can be the dessert for Easter lunch or, if placed in small Tupperware, can be a delightful gift for friends and relatives instead of the already well-known chocolate egg.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of sugar

- 1 tablespoon of butter

- 1 / 3 cup of chopped cashew nuts

- a packet of chopped biscuits (200 grams)

Margarine for greasing

For the cream:

- 1 can of condensed milk

- 2 cans of milk (use empty condensed milk can to measure)

- 3 egg yolks

- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch

Preparation:

- Put in a pan the sugar, butter and cook over low heat, stirring until it becomes a caramel.

- Add the cashew nuts, stir and remove from heat.

- Pour the mixture into a dry and smooth surface.

- Let it cool.

- Break the crispy pieces and add the chopped cookies.

- Set aside.

- For the cream, heat the condensed milk, milk, egg yolks and cornstarch, stirring until obtain a cream.

- Set aside.

- Line the bottom of a bowl with half of the crunchy biscuit mixing.

- Pour half the cream.

- Repeat, ending with the cream.

- Refrigerate for 4 hours and then can be indulged.

Information is from Guia da Cozinha.

Here are some ways to add nuts in a healthy way to your diet:

• Cover cereal with nuts helps to have a more nutritious breakfast.

• Sprinkle cashew nuts, almonds or walnuts on top of yogurt.

• Use fat-free dressings on salads and add nuts.

• Use nuts to replace croutons in salads or soups.

• Bring pasta to life adding chopped nuts.

• Remember that almonds do wonders with everything from chicken to desserts.

• Add nuts to bread, pancakes, waffles, or muffins.

• Mix nuts with light cream cheese for a delicious spread.

• Add nuts to popcorn for a tasty snack.

• Add great flavor to steamed vegetables with a handful of nuts.

• Toast nuts to enhance the flavor. Bake for 5-10 minutes in a 350-degree oven

Be creative and find other ways to use nuts in meals, remembering to use small portions of nuts, because consumption in excess can add more calories to your diet than you need.

Information is from WebMD.