The Nut Blog

Make Almond Thandai for the Holi Festival

Thandai

In just two days it will be Holi Festival time—the festival of love and color celebrated many places in the world but particularly in India and Nepal. It’s a Hindu religious festival that has become popular with many non-Hindu people because it is just so joyous and fun! In fact, that’s the point. It celebrates […]

Posted on March 19th, 2019

Bring In the Wealth of Pistachios

Pistachios

Did you know that if you dream of eating pistachios that you’re dreaming about wealth or prosperity? Yup! Especially if you come from the Middle East, the region where pistachios originated, eating pistachios is associated with blessings of all sorts. If the pistachio is mature, it could mean easy money is coming your way. If […]

Posted on March 15th, 2019

Tomato and Mushroom Cognac Chicken with Crunchy Garlic Polenta

Cognac Chicken with Crunchy Herbed Polenta

I love chicken dinners. It can be comfort food, especially in winter, simply broiled or fried with string beans and mashed potatoes. Or it can be the jumping off place for something truly inspired. Today’s recipe could be both! It is fancy enough for a special dinner but so easy to make, you might just […]

Posted on March 12th, 2019

It’s California Arbor Day

Almond Grove in Bloom

We’re celebrating trees on the blog today! We celebrate Arbor Day in California on March 7th in honor of horticulturist Luther Burbank’s birthday. Did you know that Luther Burbank got his start in the field when he chose the almond as the rootstock to fulfill a commission from an investor who wanted to cash in […]

Posted on March 7th, 2019

The Artistry of Almond Blossom Season

Gathering Almond Blossoms by John W. Waterhouse

It’s Bloom season here in Chico. It’s been raining more this year than most, but our bees did find a break in the weather to help pollinate the trees. Time will tell how well they were able to do. In the meantime, it is always glorious to see the almond trees burst into bloom. Locals […]

Posted on March 5th, 2019

What’s for Breakfast? Nut Butter!

Pancakes drizzled with Almond Butter

For me, nut butters have become part of my perfect breakfast! They’re nutritious—full of protein, vitamins, minerals and helpful fiber and fats. But who am I kidding, that’s not the only reason I eat them! Have you tried Maisie Jane’s new line of flavored handcrafted nut butters yet? They’re delicious! More like dessert than something […]

Posted on February 28th, 2019

Making the Most of Every Part of an Almond Crop (Almond Coproducts)

Almonds Cracking Open in July and August

Here at Maisie Jane’s we believe in using every part of the almonds we harvest. Did you know that almond orchards actually produce four different coproducts? There’s the kernels we eat, the almond hulls (frequently used to feed livestock), the shells (used for livestock bedding and as a fuel source) and the trees themselves when they are […]

Posted on February 26th, 2019

Nut Lovers Live longer!

Mixed nuts in a bowl

Did you know that according to several studies, such as this one from the New England Journal of Medicine, it has been consistently found that people who eat nuts regularly live longer than people who do not. It is not completely clear why this is true, but it has been observed that eating nuts is […]

Posted on February 21st, 2019

Maple Baked Salmon with Chopped Almonds (Recipe)

Maple Baked Salmon with Almonds

The health benefits of salmon are not the first thing I think of when I decide to pick some up for dinner. Wild caught, deeply colored, salmon is probably my favorite fish to eat. But in case you needed an excuse to make this delicious baked fish marinated with a sweet and salty orange, maple […]

Posted on February 19th, 2019

“Still Life and Blossoming Almond Trees” by Diego Rivera

Still Life and Blossoming Almond Trees

It is not unusual to find beautiful paintings and photographs of almond trees in blossom. Revered artists like Vincent Van Gogh and Pierre Bonnard have been captivated by the beauty of bloom season as have lesser known artists wherever almond trees can be found. What is far less usual, however, is to find a painting that […]

Posted on February 14th, 2019