January 1 is an opportunity to start fresh in a brand new year. What better way to welcome in 2013 than by preparing a feast of foods that symbolize good fortune or prosperity in the new year? Traditions vary within different cultures, but here are a few of our favorites.

Legumes

Legumes, including beans, lentils and peas, are lucky foods that represent money and prosperity (watch how they grow when cooked).

Green Lentils

In Italy, it is traditional to prepare cotechino con lenticchie (pork sausages and green lentils) on New Year’s Day for abundance and wealth. Use our organic green lentils, which are rich in protein, fiber, folate and iron.

Blackeyed Peas

In the Southern United States, people eat blackeyed peas just after midnight or on New Year’s Day to represent luck and prosperity (some even eat one pea for each of the 365 days in the upcoming year!). This tradition dates back to at least the Civil War in the US, but it may have Jewish or African roots. Cook up a pot of hoppin’ john or blackeyed peas and collard greens (greens also symbolize money).

Long Noodles

In Asian cultures, eating long noodles at the start of the new year is thought to bring health and longevity. Make a bowl of sweet and spicy stir-fry noodles, but be careful not to break the noodles once they’re in your mouth (this is bad luck).

Dried Pomegranates

In Turkey and other Mediterranean countries, pomegranates symbolize good luck for the new year. Our dried pomegranates are sweet, tart and full of vitamins.

What do you traditionally eat on New Year’s Day?

You’ve hung the stockings on the mantel for Santa, put presents under the tree, and made your plans for the Christmas holiday. Now all that’s left to do is to figure out what to bake! Recipes made with nuts are perfect for the holidays (of course, if you have guests with nut allergies, let them know which items to avoid). Here are three nutty Christmas recipes that we think your loved ones will enjoy.

Glazed Nuts

Who doesn’t love the sweet and savory blend of glazed nuts, with that terrific crunch? Also called candied nuts, these treats are best enjoyed by the handful. This simple recipe combines ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground ginger with brown sugar and vanilla to create a sweetly spiced glaze. Choose your favorite kinds of nuts: walnuts, pecans, or even mixed nuts! Use raw nuts for this recipe, because you’ll toast them in the oven. And if you’re short on time, you can buy candied pecans or candied walnuts. We doubt your guests will complain!

Nutty Holiday Logs

This guilt-free recipe was created a by a registered dietitian, and it will still satisfy your sweet tooth! It combines chopped walnuts with sugar, spices, and grated orange zest, then rolls the mixture up into flaky phyllo dough. Once the logs are baked until golden and cooled, you’ll melt chocolate chips and drizzle the chocolate over the logs. Yum!

Christmas Fruitcake

Because fruitcake gets such a bad rap, it will be easy for you to wow your guests with this crowd-pleasing Christmas fruitcake recipe. It’s made from dried fruit instead of candied fruit and has a texture that’s light and cakey, less dense than you’d expect from a fruitcake. This recipe calls for dried cherries, dried mango, dried cranberries, and dried currants, though you can substitute your own favorite dried fruit in the same quantities. The chopped pecans add a nutty flavor and crunch. Top this fruitcake with a layer of almond paste, or just serve by itself! It’s delicious either way.

What are your favorite nutty Christmas recipes?

Image credits: Town and Country Gardens, Matthew Bietz 

During the holidays, it seems that everywhere you turn, there is another cookie, candy or truffle waiting to be sampled. Give into your sweet tooth on your favorite holiday treats, but keep healthy and satisfying snacks handy for when you need a boost of energy.

English Walnuts

Here is an excellent excuse to use your holiday nutcracker! Keep a big bowl of English walnuts in the shell in your house, and guests won’t be able to resist digging in. Our walnuts have a mildly sweet flavor, and they are brimming with health benefits:

• Source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (1.5 ounces of walnuts is more than enough to fulfill the FDA’s daily requirement of omega-3 fatty acids)
• Low in saturated fat and high in polyunsaturated and mono-unsaturated fat
• No cholesterol (and might actually lower cholesterol)
• Source of dietary fiber and protein, as well as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin B1, B6, folate and vitamin E
• Source of phytochemicals and antioxidants which protect cells from free radical damage

Organic Turkish Figs

Sweet, tender Turkish figs are the perfect simple snack or addition to a holiday salad or side dish. Dried figs have a high antioxidant content (higher than dried apricots, cranberries, dates, raisins and plums) and rank in the top 10 whole foods for fiber content in the USDA nutrient database.

Roasted Golden Chickpeas

Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are popular in salads, soups and hummus, but did you know they also make an excellent snack? Our natural golden chickpeas are humidified to make them soft, then roasted in an oven for a flavorful and crunchy result. Chickpeas are rich in fiber protein, folic acid, zinc and magnesium and are linked to lowering cholesterol.

What healthy snacks do you like to keep on hand during the holidays?

If you visit our warehouse in Cranford, NJ, you will be greeted by our new nutty sign.  Stop by and say hello!

For those of us who depend on that cup of joe to get going in the morning, and those who simply love the warmth and rich taste, coffee makes a welcome Christmas gift. It’s exciting to mix up your routine with new flavors of brewed coffee, and to sample sweets that combine coffee with other delicious flavors. Here are our favorite gifts for the coffee nut in your life:

Coffee Gift Ideas

The Ultimate Coffee Nut Bonanza

This is for the true coffee nut, the one whose veins course with the glorious black stuff!

• A high-quality travel mug
• A pound of Deluxe House coffee beans
• NY espresso mix
• Dark chocolate espresso beans
• Raspberry dark chocolate espresso beans
• Mocha beans

For those who feel over-caffeinated, you can order our Deluxe House coffee in decaf!

Royale Coffee Sampler

Give the gift of variety with this sampler of our three favorite coffees in half-pound bags:

• Our Deluxe House coffee blend, perfect for that first cup of coffee of the day.
• Our French Vanilla coffee pairs wonderfully with dessert. Our French Vanilla is the smoothest, best tasting available, without the unnatural taste that other French Vanilla coffees can have.
• Our Hazelnut Supreme coffee is great for weekends, or any other time you’re feeling nutty.

Flavored Coffee

Why drink the same coffee blend every morning when you can try a variety of different flavors? Let your loved ones wake up to our delicious flavored coffees. Here are a few:

• Bailey’s Irish Cream Coffee
• Whiskey Flavored Coffee
• Snickerdoodle-Type Coffee
• Chocolate Fudge Coffee

And so many more!

Coffee Candy

Coffee candies make for a rich, yummy treat:

• Mint Chocolate Espresso Beans
• Espresso Malted Milk Balls
• Coffee and Cream Almonds
• Hopjes Coffee Candy
• Assorted Colored Espresso Beans

There is nothing like waking up on a chilly December morning to discover that everything is covered in a blanket of fresh snow. But even if sledding and snow angels aren’t in your forecast, you can still enjoy decadent white chocolate treats that are perfect for a winter day at home.

White Chocolate Favorites

White Chocolate Chips

Our creamy white chocolate chips are great for baking, topping ice cream or other desserts or simply eating plain straight out of the bag. Use them instead of milk chocolate chips in your next cookie or cupcake recipe, or melt them for white chocolate fondue.

For a special everyday treat, make white hot chocolate: stir together milk (or a combination of milk, half-and-half and heavy cream), white chocolate chips and a splash of vanilla in a saucepan over low heat. Let the mixture come to a simmer (not a boil), then pour into a mug, top with marshmallows, whipped cream and a dash of ground cinnamon.

White Chocolate Toffee Cashews

Cashews are a versatile and healthy nut, full of protein, fiber, potassium, folate and Vitamin B. While they are delicious plain or in trail mix, they are a finger-licking good dessert or snack when they are covered with white chocolate and toffee!

White Chocolate-Covered Cherries

Our white chocolate-covered cherries are the ideal festive treat and a blend of sweet and subtly tart flavors.

White Chocolate Bark

Our white chocolate bark is a new spin on an old favorite. We take huge chunks of almonds and cover them in fine white chocolate.

What are your favorite white chocolate desserts?

We’re excited to announce a brand-new section of our website: one that’s especially for Health Nuts! If you’re looking for foods that will help you manage your weight, boost your heart health, or maximize your nutrition, this is the place to start.

Here are four ways to make good use of the Health Nuts section:

1. Find links to our healthiest products, all in one place.

We’ve sorted our products into the following categories, so you can quickly find what you’re looking for:

• Superfoods, such as blueberries, quinoa, and maca powder
• All-Natural Products, such as  Simply Fruit Cocktail, raw almonds, and fruit leather
• Certified Organic Products, such as organic nuts, organic sweets (like organic gummy bears!) and organic dried fruit
• Raw Products, such as cashews, mushroom popcorn kernels, and Acai Blueberry Superfood Cereal

2. See at a glance which products have specific health benefits.

3. Locate answers to your health and nutrition FAQs from our Registered Dietitian Health Nut.

Our Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, has compiled answers to our customers’ most frequently asked questions. Here are a few questions you’ll find in the FAQs of the Health Nuts section of our website:

• How often should I incorporate whole grains into my diet?
• I’d like to lose some weight. What are some good snacks for mixing up my routine?
• Which nuts have the highest protein content?

4. Learn healthy eating habits for special diets.

Molly Morgan not only answers general questions about healthy eating, but she also addresses questions about special diets. Here are a few that you’ll find in the FAQs:

• What are good nut choices for diabetics and others watching their diets?
• How much protein do I need as a vegetarian who eats a plant-based whole food diet?
• What is the best way for someone on a gluten-free diet to get enough fiber?

Let us know in the comments what you think of our new Health Nuts section, and what else would be helpful to you!

Our Health Nut and Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, answers our customers’ most pressing health and nutrition questions and recommends her favorite products!

If you’d like Molly to answer one of your questions in a future blog post, please email your question to health@nuts.com. If we feature your question in The Nutty Scoop, we will also send you a pound of your favorite Nuts.com product.

It’s a busy time of year, and we don’t always take time to eat nutritiously. Add these five healthy foods to your eating routine on hand to help your body stay well through the holiday season!

Crystalized ginger

‘Tis the seasons for colds and flu! Did you know that ginger has long been used as a remedy to treat upset stomachs and colds? Boost your immune system this winter by adding crystalized ginger to stir-fry dishes or even mixing it with your favorite nuts!

Peppermint Tea

Keep your tummy happy this holiday season! After meals, brew a cup of peppermint tea to settle your stomach. Did you know that peppermint tea is herbal and caffeine-free?

Chia Seeds

Skate through the holidays without putting on the traditional holiday pounds! Chia seeds are loaded with fiber, which can help to fill you up. In addition, they are hydrophilic which can aid in keeping your body hydrated. Keep a batch of chia seed pudding on hand to grab as a quick, nutritious and hearty snack!

Seven Bean Soup Mix

In a hurry and need quick dinner options? Have soup and sandwiches for dinner! This seven bean soup mix is absolutely delicious and makes the perfect base for a soup to go with your sandwich.

Cacao Nibs

When you’re looking for a chocolate treat this holiday season, keep a stash of cacao nibs on hand. They are made from crushed Ecuadorian Arriba Nacional beans. They are truly a treat. Bonus: they’re nutritious, too, with 5 grams of fiber and 21% of the DV for iron per ounce!

Still looking for the perfect present for that hard-to-shop-for person on your list? Make shopping simple and satisfying this year by ordering holiday food gifts for the special people in your life. They will be delighted with treats they can enjoy right away, and you will get to avoid crowded shopping malls and long lines. That’s enough to put anyone in the holiday spirit!

Holiday Food Gifts That Keep on Giving

1. Custom Trays

Our custom trays make great gifts because you can tailor each one to a friend or family member’s specific taste. Select a medium or large tray, then browse Nuts.com’s selection of more than 150 nuts, dried fruits, chocolates, sweets and salty snacks to fill it up. Create an all-chocolate tray for your sister with a sweet tooth, or make a gluten-free tray for your co-worker with food allergies. (Warning: you might feel compelled to create an extra tray to keep for yourself after you see all of the great options!)

2. Gourmet Gift Basket

Weighing in at almost eight pounds, this gourmet gift basket is an extra-large bundle of holiday cheer. It contains a selections of sweets, snacks and chocolates that will please even the pickiest crowd, including butter toffee almonds, dark chocolate cashew clusters, sesame sticks, cajun peanuts, dark chocolate brazil nuts, rum cordials and chocolate sunflower seeds.

3. Winter Wonderland Gift Box

Sometimes good things come in pretty packages. This beautiful snowflake gift box contains almost four pounds of festive goodies, including mint chocolate espresso beans, dried apricots, peppermint malted milk balls, salted pistachios in the shell and red chocolate covered sunflower seeds.

4. Pistachio Gift Tin

The pistachio-lover in your life will go nuts over this two-pound pistachio gift tin. Our natural, hand-selected pistachios are lightly salted and roasted in the shell to perfection. They are packed in a resealable, reusable gift tin for premium freshness.

5. Premium Chocolate Truffles

Honestly, who can resist truffles? And these are no ordinary truffles. Our gourmet giant dessert truffles are big and rich and packed with chocolatey goodness. The box includes an assortment of flavors, including white chocolate, dark chocolate raspberry, milk chocolate champagne and tiramisu.

What holiday food gifts are on your list this year?

As the holidays approach, you’ll find us in the kitchen, baking and cooking up a delicious storm.  Almond flour is one ingredient that we always keep on hand.  This gluten-free flour is one of our most popular and most versatile flours.

Recently, Chef Joe of PBS’s Taste This TV used our almond flour in three tasty dishes: almond flour encrusted chicken, almond flour breaded pork, and almond flour muffins.

After cooking with our almond flour, Chef Joe had this to say:

“Nuts.com Almond Flour is filled with flavor, including a delicious nutty taste.  This flavor packed flour can’t becompared to other products of its kind.  Its nutty taste blends well with so many other foods regardless whether you are cooking or baking with it.  When using Almond Flour the food comes out so moist, light, and tasty.  Even if you do not eat gluten free you will fall in love Nuts.com Almond Flour.  Not only is it delicious, but also filled with great vitamins and proteins.  Whether you put it in pancakes or use it to fry up chicken, you will not be disappointed!” 

Thanks, Chef Joe!

Here are a few ideas for using almond flour in your holiday (and everyday) cooking and baking:

• Substitute almond flour for regular flour or bread crumbs when breading fish and meats.  Not only does almond flour add a bit of texture, it contains healthy fats, vitamin E, and plant-based proteins.  That’s why the flour is one of our Health Nut’s Top Picks!
• As a substitute for wheat flour, almond flour adds depth to gluten-free pancakes, gluten-free muffins, gluten-free chocolate scones, and gluten-free shrimp cakes.
• If you’re baking an apple crisp, substitute almond flour for regular flour to make the “crisp” part of the recipe even nuttier and more nutritious.  This is one dessert that’s melt-in-your-mouth-good without being sinful to your waistline.

If you’re just getting started with gluten-free baking and gluten-free cooking, you will love our gluten-free flour bundle, which includes The Essential Gluten-Free Baking Guide Part 1, as well as one pound each of our almond flour, coconut flour, and millet flour.

And don’t forget to check out our Guide to Gluten-Free Flour Blends for other ways to use gluten-free flour substitutes in your kitchen.