what you should know

Eons before humans knew what Omega-3 fatty acids were, our species was hip to walnuts.

food of the gods Fossilized walnuts dating from Neolithic times have been found, and written references stretch back into B.C. The botanical name for walnuts, juglans, is derived from the belief that the ancient Roman god Jupiter lived off of them. Depending on where you are in the world, walnut consumption has long been linked with a healthy heart, healthy bones, longevity, fertility, intelligence and libido. 

nut cases Modern science continues to show that the walnut is one of the healthiest foods we can eat. Still, it's too often relegated to dessert. Try working walnuts into your diet by putting them in salads, spreads, soups and sandwiches. (Or sprinkling them with sugared bacon, a food for which modern science has shown little regard.)

break out of the shell Nut crackers abound, but buying shelled walnuts makes cooking with them much easier. Because walnuts are so fatty, they can spoil without the right care. If buying in bulk, stay away from shriveled or rubbery walnuts. Smell them to make sure they smell nutty and not rancid.

keep it cool At home, store walnuts in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. If you're going to have them for a while, put them in the fridge. 

what you need

One of Chip's favorite things to do in the winter is sit on the sofa late at night with a glass of port, a book and a mound of walnuts, which he cracks with his Stanley hammer. (No joke.)

The roasted walnut oil made by California-based La Tourangelle is in the San Francisco Chronicle's Taster's Choice Hall of Fame.

what you do

When making pesto in the colder months, we like to replace the pine nuts with walnuts. We used basil in this one, but you could just as easily use spinach or arugula.

Brys riffed on hummus back in May for our root source on chickpeas. Recently, we've been taken with this lemon-walnut hummus.

Walnuts are perfect for winter salads like this grated beet, frisee and goat cheese salad.

Upon returning to Chicago after the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Al Capone supposedly ate something similar to this spaghetti with garlic-walnut sauce.

Finely chopped walnuts can make a more flavorful and textured coating than bread crumbs. To see what we mean, try this walnut-crusted chicken stuffed with spinach and feta.

 Claire's family has been making holiday walnut rolls for as long as she can remember. Once you make them, you'll know why.