FEATURE RECIPE: Pappardelle with California Walnut Pesto California walnuts add flavour and texture to fresh herbs and pasta in this classic Italian dish. Get three friends to join the California walnut recipe club and all four of you can win an autographed copy of Norene’s Healthy Kitchen, a new cookbook by Norene Gilletz, Canadian Author and Food Consultant. This brand new cookbook is filled with 600 mouthwatering recipes that are as nutritious as they are delicious. A draw will be held on September 28th to select the four winners. Simply ask three friends to visit www.walnutinfo.com and join the recipe club and all four of you can win Norene’s Healthy Kitchen which retails at $34.95. Please ask your friends to put your name in the “How did you learn of our web site?” section of the form when they join so that we know who to credit should you be selected as a winner.

HEALTH UPDATE: Mediterranean diet enriched with walnuts also protects against oxidative damage The PREDIMED study is a long-term clinical trial designed to assess the effects of eating a Mediterranean diet and the risk of cardiovascular disease. In the first stage of the study, Spanish researchers found that a traditional Mediterranean diet, including olive oil and walnuts, may reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 50 per cent as well as lower blood pressure, cholesterol and decreased blood glucose levels. Findings from the second stage of this study show that three months of consuming a Mediterranean diet reduced levels of oxidized LDL (bad cholesterol). Reduction of LDLs is thought to play an important role in the development of hardening of the arteries. Increasing LDL's resistance to oxidation is thought to possibly delay the progression of hardening of the arteries so remember to eat a handful of walnuts a day for good health!

ENJOY! THE CALIFORNIA WALNUT COMMISSION IN CANADA