Today we’re celebrating Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! Just thinking about the smell of chocolate chip cookies takes us back to our grandmother’s house. Reminisce with us as you bake up a batch of your own, from one of these five chocolate chip cookie recipes!

1. Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie

This classic chocolate chip recipe from Martha Stewart calls for all of the traditional ingredients, including semi-sweet chocolate chips. The recipe also adds dark brown sugar into the mix, which gives the cookie a richer aroma and a unique depth of flavor.

2. Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie

This Food Network recipe for gluten-free chocolate chip cookies uses tapioca flour and brown rice flour instead of regular flour. The recipe also includes xanthan gum, which adds thickness and volume to gluten-free baked goods.

3. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

Taste of Home magazine’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe includes quick-cooking oats and your choice of chopped nuts. Nuts.com offers a variety of chopped nuts, such as peanuts, walnuts, and almonds.

4. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie

This recipe comes from Trisha Yearwood’s own cookbook! It combines white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and chopped macadamia nuts to make a rich and tangy cookie.

5. Butterscotch Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookie

This blogger’s recipe is a twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie. It adds chopped pretzels and butterscotch chips to give this cookie a little extra sweet and salty kick!

What’s your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe? Tell us in the comments!

We’re proud when our products are featured in print and on the web. They’ve been highlighted in wedding magazines like Martha Stewart Weddings, health publications like Prevention, and even a feature film (see below). We encourage you to try these star products for yourself!

1. Organic Peanut Butter Stock
Featured in: Prevention

This year, we received one of Prevention’s Cleanest Packaged Food Awards for our organic peanut butter stock, which is perfect for making organic peanut butter! According to Prevention, “The products we chose met some pretty strict standards: they’re all GMO-free, have no more than 10 g of added sugar, contain no more than 200 mg of sodium (400 for a meal)…finally, they had to be absolutely delicious.”

2. Hibiscus Flowers and Almond Paste
Featured in: Love & Olive Oil

The husband and wife team behind this blog about culinary adventures at home used our hibiscus flowers in their recipes for Hibiscus Mango Sorbet and Hibiscus Flower Enchiladas. Hibiscus flowers also make a great hot or cold tea. Love & Olive Oil also featured our almond paste in their recipe for Chocolate-Glazed Almond Horns, which looks mouth-wateringly delicious!

3) Salted Roasted Cashews
Featured in: Some Girl(s) film

Our salted roasted cashews showed off their thespian chops in the opening scene of Some Girl(s), which premiered this spring at SXSW. Watch a clip from the film. Roasted cashews are great for snacking or using in salads!

4) Sixlets and Gumballs
Featured in: Hostess with the Mostess

Hostess with the Mostess, a blog on modern entertaining, featured our sixlets and gumballs in a post about a sprinkles themed birthday party for a 10-year-old girl. The party included a tasty-looking yogurt bar. Sixlets are also a popular candy to feature in wedding candy buffets because they come in many gorgeous colors!

5) Wasabi Peanuts
Featured in: Health magazine, May 2013 issue

Health magazine’s May print issue features our wasabi peanuts in a piece called “8 Nutty Snacks Under 80 Calories.” Not only are they low in calories, but they’re also high in flavor! The spice of the wasabi will make your mouth tingle. These snacks are great for parties, because people can’t get enough of them!

For more featured products, see our previous post, 6 Featured Products You’ll Love.

Earth Day is coming up on April 22, and we’ve got going green on the brain. Since meat and dairy products require more resources and generate more greenhouse gasses than plant-based foods, cutting back on your consumption these products – even just adopting Meatless Mondays – helps in the effort to show Mother Nature a little love.

This Earth Day, explore delicious new ways to go meatless by cooking up one of these creative vegan recipes. They’re good for your body and the planet!

1. Peanut Butter Smoothie

This smoothie is rich, creamy and filling – great for a protein-packed breakfast or a sweet after-dinner treat. Blend ice cubes, almond milk, organic peanut butter, vanilla extract and agave nectar and enjoy.

2. Spirulina Guacamole

Homemade guacamole is already full of omega-3 fatty acids, but adding spirulina to your favorite recipe gives it an extra nutritional punch. Spirulina is a kind of blue-green algae found in lakes and ponds; it is rich in iron and amino acids and may have antiviral and anticancer effects. Blend fresh avocados, onions, garlic, tomatoes, salt, lime juice, cumin and spirulina, and serve with tortilla chips.

3. Four-Grain Salad With Garlic, Lemon & Herbs

Chef Jamie Oliver is an expert at combining fresh and wholesome ingredients in new and inventive ways, and his four-grain salad is a treat for the taste buds. Mix four types of cooked grains – wild rice, red rice, oats and farro or barley – and season with fennel seeds, cumin seeds, sea salt, pepper, mint and parsley.

What are your favorite vegan recipes?

Sure, you’ve heard about the health benefits of whole grains, and you may have added healthy foods like quinoa to your diet. But do you know about the super grains teff, millet, and kamut? How about buckwheat, not technically a grain or wheat, but a cousin to rhubarb that has a similar nutritional profile to super grains?

Last week on the Dr. Oz Show, Nutritionist Heidi Skolnik shared that these four super grains are eaten all over the world, while in the U.S. we’re overly focused on wheat. Each of these super grains has its own nutritional benefits, and several are gluten-free!

Teff

Teff is the smallest grain in the world, so small that it can’t be refined or otherwise processed! It has a mild sweetness similar to flaxseed, and it’s full of calcium. Cook whole grain teff as a hot breakfast cereal by simmering 1 cup of teff with 2 cups of water, until the liquid is absorbed. You can also substitute teff flour for around 1/4 of the all-purpose flour called for in your favorite recipes. Teff is gluten-free.

Kamut

Kamut is considered the “high energy grain” because it contains 40% more protein than the national average for wheat. Skolnik writes:

A half-cup of cooked kamut has more protein than an egg! It also has B vitamins and contains omega-3s, which may help the body fight inflammation. It is also higher in vitamin E than common forms of wheat, which helps keep the immune system strong.

Kamut is a long grain that’s best cooked in a rice cooker or slow cooker, for up to one hour. As a member of the wheat family, kamut is not gluten-free.

Millet

According to Skolnik:

Millet provides magnesium and B vitamins, two nutrients that have been shown to help reduce muscle/nerve pain like migraine headaches, muscle tension and cramps. Millet is being rediscovered for its possible role in helping control diabetes and inflammation in the body.

You can use millet in a variety of ways. To cook it like rice, heat 2 parts millet to 5 parts water and boil for 30-35 minutes. You can fluff it and eat it as a hot cereal, mash it as a savory side, or grind it into flour to use for baking. Millet is gluten-free.

Buckwheat

Oprah calls buckwheat a superfood! It’s high in potassium and phosphorous and contains 50% more vitamin B than wheat. Believe it or not, buckwheat has the highest source of biological protein in the plant kingdom! It improves circulation and may lower “bad” cholesterol. To cook buckwheat, combine 1 cup Whole Buckwheat Groats with 2 cups water in large sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook 10 to 12 minutes, then let stand 5 minutes. Buckwheat is gluten-free.

Learn more about the super grains that Dr. Oz recommends, and try incorporating them into your diet!

Earlier this week, we shared the good news that eating a Mediterranean diet full of nuts, fruit, vegetables, legumes, fish and olive oil has powerful health benefits, lowering the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease. The landmark new study, published on the New England Journal of Medicine’s website this week, even supports drinking a glass of wine with meals, so pour yourself a glass of your favorite red and try one of these delicious Mediterranean diet recipes. Your heart and your taste buds will approve!

1. Pasta with spinach, garbanzo beans and raisins

You can prepare this simple weeknight dinner almost entirely from ingredients you already have in your kitchen — pasta, garbanzo beans, golden raisins, fresh spinach, olive oil and parmesan cheese. Soak dried garbanzo beans overnight and use them in place of canned beans (they are inexpensive and tasty).

2. Lamb chops with pistachio gremolata

These flavorful lamb chops only take a few minutes of preparation and cooking time. Mix salt, cumin, coriander, ground cinnamon and black pepper together and sprinkle over the lamb chops. Cook in a skillet over medium-high heat, and sprinkle with chopped pistachios, parsley, cilantro, lemon rind, salt and garlic.

3. Goat Cheese, Cranberry and Walnut Canapes

These goat cheese canapes are an impressive appetizer or side dish that you can throw together in a few minutes. Coat baguette slices with olive oil and spread with goat cheese mixed with dried cranberries and thyme. Top with walnut halves seasoned with cinnamon and salt and pepper.

4. Quinoa Salad With Pears, Baby Spinach and Garbanzo Beans

This hearty quinoa salad is gluten-free and vegetarian and a snap to make. Cook quinoa on the stovetop; when it is finished, add baby spinach, sliced pears, chopped parsley and garbanzo beans. Finish with toasted pecans and a maple-balsamic vinaigrette.

What Mediterranean diet recipes do you love to cook at home? Share your favorites in the comments.

Big news this week for health-conscious eaters: A major study found that a diet rich in nuts, fruits and veggies, fish, and olive oil — known as the Mediterranean diet — lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke for those at high risk of heart disease. The researchers behind the study say that while more research is needed to show that the diet also benefits those at low risk for the disease, that is what they expect to find.

The New York Times explained why this landmark study is making headlines:

Heart disease experts said the study was a triumph because it showed that a diet was powerful in reducing heart disease risk, and it did so using the most rigorous methods. Scientists randomly assigned 7,447 people in Spain who were overweight, were smokers, or had diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease to follow the Mediterranean diet or a low-fat one. 

The article goes on to say:

One group assigned to a Mediterranean diet was given extra-virgin olive oil each week and was instructed to use at least 4 four tablespoons a day. The other group got a combination of walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts and was instructed to eat about an ounce of the mix each day. An ounce of walnuts, for example, is about a quarter cup — a generous handful. The mainstays of the diet consisted of at least three servings a day of fruits and at least two servings of vegetables. Participants were to eat fish at least three times a week and legumes, which include beans, peas and lentils, at least three times a week. They were to eat white meat instead of red, and, for those accustomed to drinking, to have at least seven glasses of wine a week with meals.

Compared with those eating the low-fat diet, the extra-virgin-olive-oil group showed a 30% lower risk of having a heart attack, stroke or dying of heart disease after five years, while those consuming the Mediterranean diet with more nuts showed a 28% lower risk of these outcomes.

Chances are, you have heard a friend or colleague or family member talking about the “paleo diet” within the last year. So what’s it all about?

This eating plan is based on the idea that modern processed foods are making us unhealthy and that people should instead eat wholesome foods that our hunter-gatherer ancestors would have presumably eaten about 10,000 years ago. These foods include fresh meats (preferably grass-fed, free-range or wild), seafood, fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts and healthy oils (olive, coconut, avocado, macadamia, walnut and flaxseed) but exclude dairy products, cereal grains, legumes, refined sugars and processed foods.

Dr. Loren Cordain, author of The Paleo Diet and a number of other books, sums it up on his website:

With readily available modern foods, the Paleo Diet mimics the types of foods every single person on the planet ate prior to the Agricultural Revolution (a mere 333 generations ago). These foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and seafood) are high in the beneficial nutrients (soluble fiber, antioxidant vitamins, phytochemicals, omega-3 and monounsaturated fats, and low-glycemic carbohydrates) that promote good health and are low in the foods and nutrients (refined sugars and grains, trans fats, salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and processed foods) that frequently may cause weight gain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and numerous other health problems.

Want to explore the paleo diet? Whip up one these three tasty paleo-friendly recipes to give it a try.

1. Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)

These bite-sized stuffed grape leaves offer a satisfying blend of sweet and savory flavors — ground lamb, pine nuts, raisins or currants, dried mint and fresh parsley. Serve them as a hearty appetizer or as a main course.

2. Muesli Scones

If you can’t bear the idea of giving up pastries, these muesli scones will ease your anxiety. The recipe uses blanched almond flour as a base, adding dried cranberries, dried apricots, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pistachios and honey or agave nectar for a natural crunchy sweetness.

3. Beef and Vegetable Chili

This chili recipe makes enough to feed a crowd, but you might not want to share! Each bowl is full of flavor from beef, fresh vegetables and chili peppers, coconut oil, chili powder, sea salt, cumin, oregano, thyme and topped with a rich dollop of coconut milk.

What are your favorite paleo diet recipes? Share them in the comments!

It’s still the season for comfort food, when chilly temperatures make you crave hot and hearty stews, sauces and casseroles. Comfort food might bring to mind rich, meat-based dishes like beef stew and chicken pot pie, just like Mom used to make, but did you know that vegetarian meals can be just as filling and satisfying? Try incorporating more vegetarian recipes into your diet to explore new flavors and improve your overall health.

A recent study from scientists at Oxford University suggests that vegetarians are 32 percent less likely to be hospitalized or die of heart disease than their meat-eating counterparts.

According to the Dr. Oz Show blog:

Researchers followed a total of 44,561 men and women living in England and Scotland for 11.5 years on average; 34% of those persons were vegetarians. Throughout the study, the researchers assessed the participants’ diet, smoking habits, exercise habits, body-mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

After adjusting for potential compounding factors, like age, alcohol consumption and physical activity, they found that vegetarians had a 32% lower risk of being hospitalized or dying from heart disease. They even found that those who were vegetarians for at least 5 years during the study enjoyed similar heart-healthy benefits.

The blog also says if you are considering a vegetarian or vegan diet, you should be careful to get enough protein and vitamins in your diet: “make sure to include good sources of plant-based proteins in your diet from tofu, quinoa, tempeh, or white beans.” Here are a few delicious vegetarian recipes using some of those healthy ingredients.

Vegetarian Soup with Cannellini Beans and Kale

Cannellini beans, a staple in Italian cooking, are full of protein and iron and are melt-in-your-mouth good in soups and stews. This soup recipe combines the beans with fresh kale, fresh vegetables and herbs and a little bit of spice, and you can prepare it easily in a pressure cooker or on the stovetop.

Vegetarian Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are a snap to make and a great way to feed a hungry crowd. Peppers are often filled with ground meat and rice, but this recipe offers a flavorful and vegetarian alternative: quinoa, carrots, onions, sunflower seeds, dried parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, paprika, dried marjoram, dried thyme and cayenne pepper.

Vegan Slow-Cooker Navy Bean Soup

This soup recipe is perfect for a busy weekday because the slow cooker does all the work. Just soak dried navy beans in water overnight, rinse, then slow-cook with diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, broth and spices (including parsley, paprika and black pepper).

What are your favorite vegetarian recipes? Share them in the comments!

Eating a gluten-free diet doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite foods. You can still eat scrumptious pizza, bread, even cookies, cakes and other desserts, prepared with a variety of gluten-free flours. Whether you are eliminating gluten from your diet because of an allergy or a new healthy eating plan, or you are simply trying to cut back your flour intake, you will enjoy these finger-licking-good recipes.

Gluten-Free Flour to the Rescue

1. Wheat Belly Pizza Crust

Rejoice, you no longer have to watch enviously as your friends dig into piping-hot, cheesy pizza! This pizza crust recipe, from Dr. William Davis’ popular book Wheat Belly, is wheat-free and has a hearty texture from chickpea flour, ground almonds and ground golden flaxseed meal. Add your favorite vegetables, sauce and cheese for a meal that everyone will love.

2. Paleo Bread 

Sandwiches, toast, bruschetta… no more giving up your favorite bread-based treats. This gluten-free bread recipe is high in protein and has a subtle sweet, nutty flavor from its natural ingredients. The bread contains delicate almond flour, light, fluffy coconut flour, ground golden flaxseed meal, coconut oil and honey.

3. Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Nothing beats a sweet, chewy homemade chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven. Alton Brown’s gluten-free chocolate chip recipe is a huge hit, passing taste tests as “the real thing.” The cookies use brown rice flour, corn starch, tapioca flour, xantham gum and, of course, loads of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

What are your favorite recipes made with gluten-free flour? Share in the comments!

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?