Chile-Cinnamon Brittle with Mixed Nuts recipe for managing PCOS and pregnancy on Fertility Chef

Lunch: Chile-Cinnamon Brittle with Mixed Nuts

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Health and fertility benefits of Chile-Cinnamon Brittle with Mixed Nuts

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). One tbsp of honey has a glycemic index (GI) of 55. Nuts are a natural source of Inositol, a derivative of Vitamin B (which is often prescribed in the form of supplements for women with PCOS). Inositol can effectively control the symptoms of PCOS by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin sensitivity.

Ingredients

1 cup whole peeled almonds
1 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
1 cup large peanuts
2 vanilla beans
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup good quality honey
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, half a palmful
1 1/4 sticks butter, diced
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder, 1/3 palmful
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, a couple of pinches

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toast the almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts on a small baking sheet until fragrant and golden. Cool. Line a baking sheet with parchment and tear an extra piece of the same size. Reserve. Halve and scrape the vanilla beans, then add the seeds and pods to a pot with the toasted nuts, sugar, honey, corn syrup, salt and butter. Place the pot over high heat and stir until caramel in color. Then stir in the chile powder and cinnamon. Remove the vanilla pods with a fork and pour the brittle onto the lined baking sheet. Top with the extra parchment and roll out to an even layer, about 1/2 inch thick. Cool and break into irregular pieces.