Nutworthy news

Nutworthy news
Are you nutty about a particular type of nut without being obsessive about it? Planters Nut Lovers' line zeroes in one type, then adds two nutty pals for variety: pecan, with cashews and pistachios; cashews, with macadamias and pecans; pistachios, with cashews and almonds; and macadamia, with almonds and pecans. They're also a nice way to toast the company's 100th anniversary. Each 5.5- to 6-ounce can costs $3.80-$4 at Meijer, Cub Foods and Sunset Foods.
Custom-made, by you
Sarah's Pastries & amp; Candies in Chicago -- (312) 664-6223 -- lets you create your own high-end confection -- like these delicious chocolate clusters with almonds, pistachios and Rice Krispies. Choose from barks, bars or clusters; six kinds of chocolate (including dark, milk and sugar-free); and more than 20 mix-ins (the list includes nuts, coconut, sunflower seeds and mini-marshmallows). The candy is ready in 48 hours with choice of packaging (boxes or bags and, for a fee, custom labels). Minimum orders (2 pounds or 10 bags) start at $60. To order, go online to the Web site, sarahscandies.com.
Summer side
Cucumber salad is the perfect make-in-advance summer side; we love it with thinly sliced red onions and crumbled feta cheese. For the best flavor and texture, though, a little advance planning is in order.
To get most of the water out of cucumbers, peel and seed them, slice them, and lay them in a colander in the sink. Then place a small plate over the colander and weight it down with a can or two for an hour, or until the cucumbers are crisp and juicy but not exuding too much water (and can therefore hold dressing with ease).
And soaking sliced red onions in ice water for about 15 minutes takes away their bite when you're serving them raw. Dry them on paper towels before serving.
Summer sharp
Radishes are coming into season right now, and myriad varieties can be found at your local farmers' market, from long, thin icicle radishes to mild French breakfast radishes.
While they're delicious on their own, or dipped into butter and salt, their sharp taste isn't for everyone. They mellow out substantially when grilled or roasted.