Happy Holidays Everyone

Welcome to a rebroadcast of our very first Christmas episodefrom 2021. It was a good one. I’m sure you will be entertained and informed about some of the most intriguing fruits and veggies that are traditionally eatenthis time of year.

What the heck are “sugar plums?” Are they real fruit? Howmany pear trees with partridges will your true love send you on the 12 Days of Christmas? And the fruitful tradition of stocking stuffers, including oranges and walnuts!

Stay tuned to get yourself in the holiday spirit and haveyour appetite whetted for some delicious fruits and veggies.

In this week’s episode, we’re turning our attention to a nut that has flown under the radar for far too long and one of the most unique and boldly flavored nuts in the world—the American black walnut. Unlike the mild English walnut most of us buy at the store, black walnuts grow wild, harvested, not from manicured orchards, but from trees scattered across backyards, farms, and forests throughout the Midwest and Appalachian states. They’re one of the few truly wild-harvested commercial foods in the United States—a tradition that brings together thousands of local gatherers each fall. With their rich, earthy flavor and crunchy texture, black walnuts have a personality all their own, celebrated by bakers, chefs, and food lovers looking for something real, rustic, and full of character.

Joining us to tell us all about them is Jacob Basecke, Executive VP of Hammons Products Company, a fourth-generation family business that has been harvesting, processing and promoting black walnuts for decades from the Ozarks in Southern Missouri.

We’ll dig into what makes black walnuts different from the English walnut – from flavor to nutrition, sustainability to wild-harvest tradition. We’ll explore how Hammons works with thousands of harvesters in the Midwest, how their crop fits into today’s consumer and foodservice markets, you can make the most of this bold, wild nut.

This week, we welcome a guest who truly embodies the spirit of vibrant, healthy living — Chef Megan McCarthy, the creative force behind HealthyEating101.com. Megan is an award-winning chef, educator, and healthy lifestyle expert who’s been inspiring audiences to eat better and feel better through her cooking classes, TV appearances, and wellness events all across the country.

From quick, nutritious meals you can make in 15 minutes, to creative ways to get more greens, grains, and gorgeous produce onto your plate, Megan shows that healthy food doesn’t have to be complicated — it just has to be colorful, flavorful, and fresh!

We’ll be talking with her today about her journey as a healthy chef, her favorite seasonal fruits and veggies, and some of her go-to recipes for busy families who still want to eat well. Plus, she’ll share a few easy tips you can start using right now to make your kitchen a little greener and your meals a lot brighter.