Earlier this week, we told you all about the steps we take to make sure you get your special-occasion sweets delivered safe and sound. But what about after they arrive? Storing your goodies correctly will keep them fresh and delicious for your favors or candy buffet on your big day!

Though we pride ourselves on speedy shipping, it’s a good idea to schedule your candy delivery for two to four weeks before your wedding or party. After you order your products, you can use our special order tracker to see where the shipment is at any time. Cool, huh? If you can, schedule your delivery for a day or time when you know you’ll be home, and avoid shipping candy and chocolate over weekends to make sure they get to you as quickly as possible.

Once your special order arrives, it’s easy to take care of it! Keep all of the products in their sealed NutsOnline pouches until it’s time to make your favors or assemble your candy buffet. If your favors are made of material that exposes the candy to open air, such as mesh, make sure to package the assembled product in airtight containers until use.

Nuts and dried fruit should generally be stored in the refrigerator. Candy and chocolate, on the other hand, need to be kept in a cool, dry spot that is between 59-63 degrees Fahrenheit and has a relative humidity of less than 50 percent. Keeping chocolate in the fridge or freezer can promote “blooming,” which is a whitish discoloration on the surface of the candy. You don’t want that, so opt for a kitchen pantry or cupboard instead!

In addition to following these general guidelines, we offer specific instructions for storing each of our products in the lower left corner of the product pages. Scope out the directions for each of your items to ensure that you’re taking every precaution to keep them fresh.

Of course, if you have any questions about storing your treats, just ask us! We’re available via email at CustomerService@NutsOnline.com or phone at 800-558-6887. You can also reach us via Twitter @Nuts_Online or on our Facebook page.

During these dog days of summer, we like to stay in our air-conditioned homes as much as possible. Looking for a project to pass the afternoon? Whip up a batch of nutty treats for your favorite canine companion! Dogs go wild for these simple and all-natural biscuits, and you’ll  have a great time making them.

Start by mixing 4 cups of whole-wheat flour, 2 tbsp. of baking powder and 1 cup of old-fashioned rolled oats in a large bowl. Once they’re combined, add 2 cups of milk and 2 cups of smooth organic peanut butter. Use your hands to knead the mixture until it forms a soft dough.

Lightly flour a tabletop and roll the dough out to ¼ inch thickness. Use small cookie cutters or a pizza wheel to slice the dough into bite-sized shapes. Arrange the dog biscuits on a greased cookie sheet and bake them at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes. Remove them to a cooling rack. When the dog treats are completely cool, transfer them to an airtight container with a lid. They’ll keep for about a week in that container. If you want them to last longer, store them in the freezer for up to three months. (Just don’t forget to thaw them out before giving them to Fido!)

Have you ever made homemade dog treats? What are some of your pup’s favorites?

Are you ready for the holiday weekend? We sure are! We’ve got some recipes up our sleeves that we only make for our annual Fourth of July barbecue, including our famous nutty fruit salad. Give it a whirl this year!

Start by chopping one red apple and one green apple into bite-sized pieces. Put the apples into a large bowl and add about 1 cup each of red grapes, blueberries and hulled strawberries. Drain a jar of red maraschino cherries and add them to the bowl, as well. Sprinkle 1 cup of walnut pieces on top of the fruit.

Stir a dash of nutmeg and about ½ tsp. of vanilla extract into 4 cups of whipped cream. Gently fold the whipped cream into the fruit. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the nutty fruit salad until serving.

Of course, you can throw in just about any fruit or nut you desire. Pineapple, oranges and peaches are also scrumptious in this dish, as are toasted slivered almonds.

What are some of your traditional Fourth of July dishes?

Hi, all you nutty readers! Welcome to the first installment of The Nuttiest Nut, an ongoing series of blog posts profiling some of our most enthusiastic fans.

Our first Nuttiest Nut just loves to share her treats with others!

Our first post takes us to Louisville, Ky. Katy O’Toole’s coworkers say she’s a true super fan, calling her enthusiasm for NutsOnline products “a bit evangelical at times.”  Wherever she goes, Katy brings NutsOnline snacks for the crowd: baby showers, the office, birthday parties, you name it. Thanks to her generosity, she’s even converted several friends into bona fide nuts themselves! Here’s what Katy had to say about NutsOnline:

Question: What NutsOnline goodies are you just nuts for?
Answer: Dried cranberries (juice infused), sprouted nuts, sliced almonds, veggie chips, wasabi peanuts, medjool dates, any type of candied pecan, pine nuts, gummy bears, caramels.

Q.:  What do you typically order from NutsOnline?
A.: All of the above!

Q.: How do you spread the word about NutsOnline to others?
A.: I let my coworkers get in to my stash around 2-3 every day.  There are a LOT of hungry snackers where I work!

Q.:  Do you have any special recipes or dishes that you like to make with NutsOnline products?
A.:  Yes!  I make my own granola at least once a month for use as salad topping and yogurt topping.  I also place an almond in the dates, wrap them with a slice of bacon and bake until all melty and yummy.

Q.: How did you find out about NutsOnline?
A.:  Searching for bulk nuts using “the google.”

Q.: What keeps you coming back for more NutsOnline products?
A.: The fast delivery, the prices, the packaging, and the website itself makes it sooo easy.  Too easy, in fact.

Katy, we crown you The Nuttiest Nut (this month, anyway)!

Do you know someone whose pantry is overflowing with those shiny blue bags? Are they ALWAYS expecting an order from NutsOnline? Do they give NutsOnline products as gifts for every occasion? Have people suggested that maybe, just maybe, this person has a hopeless addiction to our dried strawberries or roasted cashews?

Well, we just might feature them in an upcoming blog post!

To nominate the nuttiest nut you know, simply e-mail us at Kathleen [at] nutsonline [dot] com. Tell us the name and e-mail address of your loved one, along with why you feel they deserve to join the ranks of The Nuttiest Nuts. If selected, your nominee will receive a $10 gift certificate to NutsOnline. (And maybe they’ll share it with you!)

There’s no limit to the number of people we’ll feature, so get your nomination in. Who knows, you might just make your friend a star!

Though fruitcake might have a nutty reputation here in the United States, today’s royal wedding may have revived its popularity. According to this article in The Wall Street Journal, Kate Middleton chose a floral-themed fruitcake with cream and white icing frosting as her official wedding cake. This news has triggered a small boom in U.S. fruitcake sales, with many bakeries seeing business that they usually only get around Christmas.

If you’re inclined to give fruitcake a chance in honor of Prince William and Kate’s big day, why not make it from scratch? Though the glazed fruit used in fruitcake may only be available in your local grocery store during the holiday season, we offer a wide variety of glazed fruit year-round (along with the premium nuts and flours you’ll need to create a yummy fruitcake of your very own). Make sure to pick up some glazed mixed peel, glazed red and green cherries, and glazed pineapple to give your cake the authentic look and taste.

Every chef’s fruitcake recipe seems to differ slightly, but we have a couple of favorites. Alton Brown’s Free Range Fruitcake is quite simple to make, and incorporates all the flavors of a traditional fruitcake. White fruitcake has a milder flavor and doesn’t necessarily need to age as long as other recipes. This Christmas Fruitcake recipe from Cooking Light has fewer calories and less fat than most recipes, and it incorporates yummy dried fruits and nuts such as currants, figs and pistachios.

Do you have a special fruitcake recipe that you plan on getting out in honor of the royal wedding?

One of the latest additions to our product line is sure to please the health nuts in your life. Chia oil, which is derived from chia seeds, is now available.

Chia oil is packed with beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can help improve your cardiovascular health by lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure. Additionally, chia oil contains a fair amount of calcium. It’s also naturally gluten-free, making it an excellent recipe booster for those who stick to a gluten-free diet.

There are quite a few different ways to enjoy chia oil. Chia oil is not a neutral-tasting oil, and we’ve found that it’s best to use it in smaller amounts in oil-heavy recipes (especially at first). Subbing 1 tbsp. of chia oil into a salad dressing or dipping oil recipe usually works out great. We’ve also found that drizzling a small amount of the oil into a homemade smoothie hits the spot.

One of our favorite things to make with chia oil is homemade pesto. The oil works well with the strong flavors of basil and garlic. To start, put three to five large cloves of garlic, ½ cup of pine nuts or walnuts, and a few shakes of salt and pepper into a food processor. Process the mixture until it makes a lumpy paste. Add 2 to 3 cups of fresh basil and process the mixture until the basil is finely chopped.

Pour 1 tbsp. of chia oil into the food processor, then process the pesto for about 30 seconds. While the food processor is still running, drizzle up to ¾ cup of olive oil into the mixture, stopping when the pesto reaches a saucy consistency. Add ½ cup of freshly grated Parmesan to the pesto, and consume it immediately on pasta, sandwiches, crackers or pizza. Delicious!

Have you cooked with chia oil? What are some of your most successful dishes?

Christmas is closing in, but it’s not too late to order some holiday treats for yourself and your loved ones. We’ve got our nutty elves working overtime to make sure your orders reach you in time, but you’ve got to act soon!

The last date that we can ship out Christmas orders is tomorrow, Dec. 23. You must place your order by 4 p.m. EST (8 a.m. EST for coffee and tea), and you must select the one-day shipping option when you’re completing your transaction. If you’re ordering today, place your order by 4 p.m. EST (8 a.m. EST for coffee and tea), and make sure to choose two-day shipping.

Ground shipping transit times can’t be guaranteed this time of year because Christmas often overloads those hardworking guys and gals! Do not select ground shipping, even if you live near our headquarters, if you want to make sure you receive your NutsOnline order before Christmas.

Check out our shipping page for more information, and don’t forget to take it easy this week. We can’t wait until Christmas Eve, when we’ll kick back with a selection of holiday treats and enjoy spending time with our family and friends!

Stuffing (or, as some people prefer to call it, dressing) is hands-down our favorite thing on the Thanksgiving table. It’s such an incredibly delicious combination of all the traditional Thanksgiving flavors of turkey, seasonings, veggies and bread.

Given our nutty tendency to add our products to just about anything, it should come as no surprise that one of our favorite stuffing recipes (adapted from this recipe for bacon-nut stuffing ) contains a healthy dose of chopped English walnuts, though you could use slivered almonds instead. We also like to throw in some tart whole dried cranberries for good measure.

Start by crisping up about ¾ pound of bacon over medium heat. Crumble the strips and set them aside. Leave about ¼ cup of the bacon drippings in the pan and add one large chopped onion and two stalks of chopped celery. Saute the vegetables over medium-low heat until they’re soft, then add 1 to 2 cloves of minced garlic, the crumbled bacon, a generous handful of chopped English walnuts, about ½ cup of whole dried cranberries and about 2 cups of fresh, homemade bread crumbs (we like to use sourdough loaves for this, but French, Italian or any other crusty bread will do). Pour ½ cup of turkey or chicken broth over the top, and season the stuffing with salt, white pepper, about ½ tsp. of dried thyme and a bay leaf. Stir gently to combine.

Remove the stuffing from the heat as soon as it’s combined. The mixture should be damp, but not soggy. If it seems dry or sandy, add another ¼ cup of broth or a splash of white wine.

Pack the stuffing loosely into your turkey or press in into a greased baking dish. If you’re cooking it in the turkey, use a meat thermometer to make sure the stuffing reaches a safe 165 degrees Fahrenheit before removing it from the oven. To use the baking dish method instead (which we recommend), slide the stuffing into a 375-degree oven and let it bake until it’s slightly brown on top and crispy around the edges, about 35 to 45 minutes.

Do you have a favorite stuffing recipe?

We recently hosted a summer picnic for the entire NutsOnline family, and did we ever have a blast! Barbecue, soccer…who could ask for anything more?

Here are a few shots of us enjoying the sweet summer day. Have a nutty weekend, all!

Ah, summer. After such a long winter, it’s finally that time of year when so many of us take off for relaxing vacations by the ocean. Even if you’re staying put this summer, we’ve got a treat that will sweep you back to days spent on the seashore. That’s right: Salt water taffy has arrived at NutsOnline!

According to the National Confectioners Association, salt water taffy has been a traditional part of American beach vacations since the late 1800s. The sticky sweet was first sold in Atlantic City more than 100 years ago and, though some say it made its actual debut at Midwestern county fairs, the seaside resort town is known as the official home of salt water taffy. Joseph Fralinger, who owned a shop on the Atlantic City boardwalk, is credited with starting the trend when he boxed and sold the candy as souvenirs.

NutsOnline offers soft, old-fashioned salt water taffy that’s sure to rival any bought at the beach. The individually wrapped, bite-sized candies come in an array of flavors and bright colors.

If you want the true old-fashioned experience, choose our assorted salt water taffy.The mixture of candies includes flavors such as Neapolitan, blueberry, chocolate, maple, watermelon and banana. We also offer a sampler of sugar-free salt water taffy, which is perfect for taffy fans who are cutting back on sweets.

In addition to the mixed varieties, we also feature packages of single flavors. This allows you to truly customize your salt water taffy order if you have a favorite flavor in mind!

Love the smooth taste of vanilla, the tart flavor of key lime and pomegranate, or the sweet pink pop of bubblegum? We’ve got you covered!

Though we generally enjoy our salt water taffy straight from the wrapper, you can make a particularly decadent, chocolate-drenched treat with the soft sweets if you’re so inclined. Melt several ounces of good-quality milk, dark or white chocolate in a double boiler and unwrap your taffy bites. Dunk each piece of taffy in the chocolate while it’s still warm and place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Allow the chocolate to harden in a cool place, then dig in!

To see our full selection of salt water taffy, go here.