Q: I have a lot of recipes that call for toasted nuts. Does taking the extra step of toasting them make a difference?

A: When you toast nuts, they brown and dry out a bit, resulting in a more intensely nutty flavor. Toasting also mellows the slightly bitter tanins in some nuts, such as walnuts and pecans. It's an effective way to boost the impact of nuts, whether they're mixed into a batter or filling, used in a frosting or topping, or sprinkled over food as a garnish. There are several ways to toast nuts; one of the easiest is in the oven, but watch them closely. They can go from toasted to burned in a very short time. When the nuts become fragrant, they're usually done.