How to Toast Nuts and Skin Hazelnuts

There are some recipes that call for toasted nuts and usually store-bought toasted nuts are more expensive. So here are steps to toast nuts by yourself either in the oven or stovetop.

TOAST NUT IN THE OVEN:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 deg F.
2. Place shelled nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, pine nuts and hazelnuts, on a heavy baking sheet or in a pie tin.
3. Toast the nuts in the oven until they are fragrant and golden brown on the outside and pale golden throughout the inside stirring occasionally and watching closely to ensure they brown evenly and don't blacken.
4. Toast about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the nuts.

TOAST NUTS ON STOVETOP:
1. Preheat a small heavy skillet over medium-low heat.
2. Place the nuts in the hot skillet and stir them until they become fragrant and golden brown on the outside and pale golden throughout the inside, about 5 minutes.

HOW TO SKIN HAZELNUTS:
To remove the dark brown skins on hazelnuts, rub a small handful of cooled toasted hazelnuts at a time briskly between your palms, allowing the skins to fall from your hands and onto a work surface. Don't worry if a few specks of skin remain on the hazelnuts.

(Source: Giada's Family Dinner book)