"jay" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:45:06 -0800, Dan_Musicant wrote:
>
>> I chop a lot of nuts, and have done so for many years, using a cutting
>> board and a cleaver style sharp knife. I am wondering if I can find a
>> nut chopper that will make this easier. I have a recipe that calls for 5
>> kinds of nuts:
>>
>> Walnuts
>> Pecans
>> Almonds
>> Hazelnuts
>> Cashews
>>
>> I like the chopped nuts to be approximately the size if a hulled almond,
>> chopped in half (not lengthwise). Thus, I have to chop all my almonds in
>> half, my pecans in quarters, hazelnuts in half, etc. If you've ever
>> tried to chop hazelnuts in half by hand, you know it isn't particularly
>> easy. I buy cashew pieces, and lately I don't chop them further.
>>
>> Is it possible to find a nut chopper that will make easy work of cutting
>> up my nuts into pieces so described? I usually make up around 2 quarts
>> at once, and doing it by hand takes over 1/2 hour, and is rather
>> tedious. Thanks for suggestions, recommendations, observations, etc.!
>>
>> Dan
>
> ahahaha.. never seen one that will chop almonds in half (not lengthwise),
> pecans in quarters, and hazelnuts in half. Your best shot is to like your
> nuts randomly hacked into small bits and pieces with something like this:
>
> http://www.cooking.com/products/shpr...=FROOGLE394323
>
> I'm surprised it only takes you about 1/2 hour for 2 qts based on your
> specs.

That won't work. I've had similar ones. The chops are not uniform and for
the most part, are finely ground nut dust. I wonder though if a quick 1 or
2 second whiz in the food processor wouldn't do best. Might be a few pieces
that get too small or a few that need cut more but it would shave some time
off the chopping.