November 23rd National Cashew Day

There really isn’t much to say about cashews except they seem to be many people’s favorite nut. They are a little sweeter than most nuts may be the reason why, maybe it’s the shape, maybe it’s something else entirely. They use the cashew in many Asian cooking dishes and it is even made into an expensive form of peanut butter. There are even some Thanksgiving dressing that feature the cashew and since tomorrow is Thanksgiving…. well, you might want to try one… that is, if you like cashews.

How to celebrate – Look up recipes using cashews. Have a bowl of cashews available to snack on. Invent your own cashew dish.

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October 22nd National Nut Day

How many different types of nuts do you think there are? Well, if you don’t count the human nuts, there are 17. (Get your mind out of the gutter) Nuts are filled with Vitamin E and B2 and contain a lot of protein and fiber so guess what, they are actually good for us! Today was created by Liberation Foods Company in the UK and is continued on by the Fair Trades Organization of the UK to celebrate the nut. Oh, and a peanut is not a nut, it’s a legume and part of the pea family. So if you are up to it, have some Goober Peas as they have been called in the South… I wonder if they knew the peanut was a pea at the time the song was written?

How to celebrate – Educate yourself on the 17 types of nuts. Use nuts as your snack food. Make sure you are allergic to nuts.

October 22nd National Nut Day

Before we go any further lets understand that peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes a member of the “pea” family. Okay, that done… the Liberation Food Company created today in the UK sometime in the early 2000’s. Nuts provide protein to your diet as well as fiber and are considered a healthy food. They contain vitamin E and B2 and are a good snack treat as well as an added flavor in many popular dishes. There are eleven kinds of nuts, each one promoted by the Fair Trade Organization in the UK. Apparently there are a lot of nuts in the UK!

How to celebrate – See how many types of nuts you can name. Determine what your favorite nut is. Try adding some kind of nut to your favorite food dish.

October 22nd National Nut Day

Okay, so I know there are all kinds of jokes I could make about today but seriously… nuts are our friends! Well, maybe not friends but they are good for us! That is unless you are allergic to them. In which case they aren’t our friends or good for us. This could get very confusing!

OrganicAlmonds

Almonds, cashews, Brazilian, pine. I wonder if Mr. Peanut knows he is not really a nut? He’s a legume, in the pea family. So that peanut butter you eat is actually pea butter. Think your kids would still like peanut butter if they knew the truth!?! And beer nuts are just another story altogether! Peas soaked in beer… hum…

crazy

There are also people who are nuts! I think we all know a few of those. Maybe because they’ve had a few too many beer nuts! The truth of the matter is, however, that nuts are good for us and we should use them as snacks rather than the ice cream we eat of candy bars we consume. Of course, some of those candy bars have nuts in them and a lot of ice cream is flavored with nuts so, maybe ice cream and candy bars are good for us!

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But then, you’d really have to be nuts to think that! However, acorn-ing to squirrels… nuts are really good. Using that theory, I am a squirrel because I like nuts too!

How to celebrate – Have some nuts today! Go crazy if you like. See how many nuts you can list.

 

October 22nd National Nut Day

There are all sorts of nuts in the world. Crazy people, the type that goes on bolts and those we can’t mention. But today we are going to talk about the editable type. And Peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes!

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However, things like pumpkin seeds and squash seeds are actually considered nuts. In part because all nuts are seeds. I can honestly say there isn’t a nut I do not like, and what’s even better, they are good for you! Now there are some nuts you should not eat, like Candlenuts that are crushed and their oil used but it got me wondering how many nuts I could name.

nuts in shell

I got, almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecan, pistachio, Brazil, pine, acorn and Macadamia… my all time favorite. And nuts are very versatile as well. They can be used in salads, in syrups, in all sorts of desserts, as meat tenderizers, drinks, coffee creamers.. well yu name it, and it probably contains nuts!

pistachios

Of course, a lot of people are allergic to nuts, but primarily the peanut which again, is not a nut! The nut has been with us since the beginning of time and it will probably be there long after man has disappeared from the face of the earth.

One acorn

Nuts are definately good for your heart. They contain unsaturated fats, Omega 3 fatty acids and lots of Vitamin E. You should make njuts a part of every meal and snack, you’ll feel better and look better.

How to celebrate – Gather up some nuts for winter! Bake a pecan pie! Make some trail mix with lots of nuts in it.