Conference turris::cooks

    Normally if I'm looking for nuts, I head for the prebagged section
    where walnut chips etc. are sold.  However, safeway also sells
    "loose"  nuts in the produce section, so you might check the produce
    section of your stores if you haven't already.
    

    About a year ago, I wanted to make something with hazelnuts and
    I couldn't find them anywhere.  I *did* see some nuts in the bulk
    section of a few stores that looked like hazelnuts, but the barrels
    said "filberts."  Finally, I pulled out my dictionary, and sure
    enough, hazelnut and filbert refer to the same kind of nut.
    
    I usually buy them at Bread and Circus, but you might also check
    the bulk section of Purity Supreme or one of those fruit and nut
    places that seem to be in every mall around.
    
    Diversion: has anyone found an easy way to get the "skin" off of
    the nut.  I usually roast them.  On some the skin comes off easily,
    but on at least half, it's a struggle -- I usually end up eating
    those :-)
    
    Susie

    
>    Diversion: has anyone found an easy way to get the "skin" off of
>    the nut.  I usually roast them.  On some the skin comes off easily,
>    but on at least half, it's a struggle -- I usually end up eating
>    those :-)

I'm told by my expert (Mom, of course) that blanching the nuts will
cause the skins to become "rubbable" - you can rub them off between
your fingers.  I, on the other hand, have never really bothered...I
just chop them up in the processor and use 'em.

    I don't know where you live, but I buy hazelnuts/filberts already
    unshelled at an Italian market in Worcester called the Boulevard
    Market.  It's on Shrewsbury St. (RTE 9) near the Galleria Mall.
    When you have a recipe that calls for 4 cups of nuts, I always find
    it worth the extra pennies to pay for them already shelled!
    Sarah
    

    Filberts/Hazelnuts can almost always be found in a Health Food Store.
    They can be purchased in any quantity, most items such as flour,
    rice, oats, pasta, nuts, raisins, etc are in vats.  Good luck.
    
    Sal

    I have a recipe that uses hazelnuts/filberts, pulverized, as part of
    the cake batter.  I can't find any this time of year (are they
    seasonal?) already shelled, and there are too many needed to shell them
    myself.  Could I substitute, say, almonds for them?  I know the flavor
    will change, but will there be any other significant changes to the
    texture of the cake?  The cake is mainly ground hazelnuts, melted
    butter, egg yolks, and a small bit of flour.  I'm wondering if the
    oils, or amount of oil, in the nuts will make a big difference.  I need
    to do this for Sunday, so immediate opinions (best guesses all the way
    up to scientific analyses) needed!
    Thanks, Sarah

    You can buy ground hazelnuts in a kosher grocery store, if you live
    near one - they are pretty commonly used in Passover baking.  Also
    ground pecans, ground walnuts, and of course ground almonds - I use a
    lot of almonds.  The cake will taste different if you use almonds
    instead of filberts, but it ought to still come out OK, and is probably
    good, too - I like almonds anyhow!
    
    /Charlotte

    ELF indicates that you work in Hudson, MA.  The Shop'n Save in Nashua
    had chopped hazelnuts about a month ago, in the candy/snacks aisle, not
    with the baking products.  They were Diamond brand and were on the
    shelves below a large Planter's nut display.  If you have a Shop 'n
    Save near you, you might want to try them.
    
    
    Susan

    Thanks for both suggestions!
    Sarah

    Formaggio Kitchen at 244 Huron Ave. in Cambridge usually carries containers
    of chopped hazelnuts in the spices/baking chocolate section.
    
    Their phone number is 617-354-4750.