As Celeste says, cracking Macadamia nuts is a tedious business. When I lived in Tanzania kind neighbours gave me a bag-full and I spent an afternoon cracking them with a hammer against the steps. Having eventually garnered a harvest of fragmentary nuts I thought they'd be better for a quick toast in the oven, so popped them in - and cremated the lot in about 2 minutes! Very vexing. From the botanical viewpoint I always think it's interesting that they are are one of very few edible members of the Proteaceae - I like biodiversity in my diet! John Grimshaw Dr. John M. Grimshaw Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP Tel. 01242 870567 ----- Original Message ----- From: <hheaven77@aol.com> > > Macadamia nuts are outrageously expensive because it is so hard to open > the shells without smashing the nuts to oblivion. >