Ingredient: Hazelnuts
Hazel trees are very hardy and can produce nuts until they are over 80 years old. During ancient Roman times, it was customary to give hazel plants to bring happiness. And in France young hazel tree saplings were given as a wedding present to symbolise fertility. Squirrels absolutely love to eat hazelnuts too! They seem to eat most of ours.
Hazelnuts are packed with important minerals like manganese, copper and magnesium as well as vitamins to include Vitamin E, B6 and folate. They also contain lots of fibre which is important for bowel health.
Hazelnuts have a lovely, sweet flavour and are nice and child-friendly (but do not give whole to under three’s as they pose a choking risk). They can be eaten raw, roasted or ground up to make hazelnut butter or hazelnut flour for baking. They’re brilliant in homemade granola or stirred into energy balls with cocoa and dates.
