206 – Understanding almonds

Steve went to the Holden plant for a session run by the Small Business Commissioner, to encourage businesses to recruit workers who will be out of work on October 20. Steve was completely blown away by the efficiencies and the tiny absentee rates. Workers have already been absorbed into caravan manufacturing, aged care, new business start ups, etc. The Holden plant will be home to a new, hybrid power plant soon after October 20.

Steve also toured the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.

They are loved by naturopaths and vegans, sought after by confectioners and chocolatiers, and now cognitive scientists might be hot on their trail. I am talking about almonds and to crack open the shell and get to the kernels of truth and mystery awaiting us, we have Associate Professor Alison Coates, lecturer in nutrition in School of Health Sciences and researcher in the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at the Sansom Institute for Health Research at the University of South Australia, and her husband, Michael Coates, a PhD student at the University of South Australia, whose his PhD is focussed on understanding challenges associated with early harvest and managing moisture in almond stock piles.

Here is the link to Alison’s Snack Food Cognition Study (please join Steve in it)

Here is Alison’s recipe

Rosemary sweet and spicy mixed nuts
80g cashew nuts
80g macadamia nuts
80g pecan nuts
80g whole almonds (skin on)
1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp sunflower seeds
1 tbsp olive oil
½ -1 tbsp honey (modify based on preference for sweetness) (maple syrup could be
exchanged for honey)
1 sprigs rosemary, leaves picked
½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper
½-1 tsp cayenne (for chilli lovers you could add more)
Serves ten to twelve (approx. 30g per serve).
Method
Preheat the oven to 160C/ and prepare a baking tray lined with baking paper
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl or ziplock bag
Scatter the mixture onto the tray. Bake for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally,
watching the nuts don’t burn. Remove from heat, leave to cool on the tray, stirring from
time to time. Once cool, transfer to an air-tight container.
Note: I recommend using raw unsalted nuts for this recipe- different nuts could be used
instead such as walnuts, peanuts, hazelnut, pistachios if you prefer these ones

Here is Nigel’s recipe for museli

Nigel’s Muesli recipe
One and a half cup oats
Half cup chopped almonds
Half cup chopped walnuts
Half cup shredded coconut
Half cup diced dried apricot
Handful dried cranberries
Half cup diced dried apples

And, of course, Nigel has produced a nutrition panel to accompany his recipe. Summary: Proceed with caution LOL

Did almonds bring you two together or did one of you steer the other towards almonds?

I did feel a rush of joy when I learned you are investigating the effect of almonds on cognitive functioning because I actually like almonds. We’ll get into your upcoming study shortly but first, what brought this research about?

Are peanuts really a poor nut cousin?

What role can and should nuts play in our diets?

Nut muesli vs fruit?

A naturopath once told me that the oil in almonds can go rancid and that is worse than not having almonds.

A question from Yvonne Davis: Almonds are too hard for her teeth. Is almond paste just as good?

This leads into the study that you are seeking 150-odd people for. Tell us about that.

I note in your study that if you don’t get almonds, you get unsalted potato chips. What is the least worst food for filling you up when you get cravings at night or through the day?

I am about to try meal ingredients being delivered and am curious about portion control. Any tips?

Janis Littleton My question – What are the most common varieties of almonds grown in SA? As in: Price, Carmel, Butte, etc. As I would love to know when I am more likely buying SA almonds than just “Australian almonds”.

Favourite almond dishes or preparation styles?

We asked Professor Flint about the paleo diet and he was scornful. What do you think?

What other fads are there?

Nigel challenges the panel to pick the fake story from three stories from South Australia’s past.

The Mail May 1943
Black Market Buyers Seek Adelaide Almonds
South Australian almond merchants, already facing a 40 per cent, reduction in available crop this year, have another worry in black market operations by some interstate buyers. MR F. J. Boyle, a prominent Adelaide almond merchant, said yesterday that buyers from other States were offering 11d. a lb. for graded Brandis — the price at which Adelaide merchants had to sell them under price
regulations. Prices for other types of almonds were correspondingly black. The only effective remedy for black marketing, both by local and interstate buyers, would be to license buyers and place selling under control, added Mr. Boyle Although South Australia is the almond-producing State of the Commonwealth, it is, in normal years, a large importer of almonds. The State in pre-war days produced annually from 300 to 350 tons of almonds in the shell. In addition, it imported from 400 to 500 tons of almond kernels. They came from Spain, Italy, Persia, and Africa.

Border Watch March 1949
Almonds Wanted
The Royal Navy Friendly Union is urgently appealing for almonds to send to Britain in the monthly food parcels which are sent to 189 Naval War Widows. A letter from one mother said: -“Perhaps
the most sought after item in the parcel is the almonds, the children love them so.” We had not seen nuts since before the War, till yours came.”

The Advertiser November 1906
Prospect Parrots last supper
As the almond trees around Adelaide prepare for another bountiful crop some of the local birds are not finding the meal to their liking. Late in spring some of the Corella parrots found on the Adelaide plains attempt to eat the almonds. This week people in Prospect found quite a few dead birds amongst the almond groves along with remains of their last supper. The birds are not used to the nuts and eat them before they are fully ripe.

And our song this week is Cognition by Attonbitus, selected by our musical curator, Todd Fischer.

Very excited about the song I’ve got to play for you this week.

Being that theme was nutrition, in particular Almonds and their effect on cognitive function, I’ve decided to feature a track call Cognition by an awesome local band called Attonbitus.

This band is led by Michael Brigante who I’ve been following ever since I saw him busking in the mall a few years ago and was amazed by his unique style. When I spoke to Michael this week I was quite surprised to hear that he has made the move to Gouger St for his busking as apparently the Rundle Mall powers that be are making life very difficult for street performers. In his words “It seems like they don’t want buskers there anymore” which seems stupid to me as buskers are the best thing about the mall.

Anywho, Attonbitus is a band that draws so many different genres and styles its not funny and this song is no exception. Michael’s singing moves between a Bob Dylan-esque spoken word style to slightly psychedelic melodies that remind me of The Beatles. He then contrasts that against moments of unhinged expression that just scream raw emotion. The crisp drumming and bass then ties it all together in a playful funky rhythm that has hints of prog & reggae. This is a band that clearly has a lot of fun playing music and that really comes across in their songs.

If you like what you hear then jump on their Facebook Page to stay updated on all their upcoming gigs. Michael will be playing a solo show on Aug 17th at the William Bligh bar in the East End at 7pm and they have more shows in the works including a single launch in December. If you’re lucky you might even catch him out busking on Gouger St this Friday night.