Kettle Corn Style Pistachios

By Andrew Hunter

I remember as a kid eating pistachios by the sacksful. In those good old days, my fingers, palms and face would be as red as the pistachios. It simply didn’t dawn on me that pistachios weren’t naturally red. Now I know that in fact red pistachios should be avoided like the plague. Why, because inferior and even moldy nuts are dyed to hide any number of impurities.

Recently, we were wandering around a farm in Northern California and got lost in the pistachio groves. The nuts hung in bunches with split creamy beige shells exposing the tender green and rosy hued kernels, waiting to be shaken from their branches, roasted and sold at farm stands and country markets along the roadways.

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Hallowed be thy Grains

By Katie Barreira

Curses to every germ, every cold-carrying microbe, every virus, bug and bacteria that has plagued us this flu season. The Center for Disease Control says that flu activity in the U.S. usually peaks around February, but can continue to occur as late as May. Well, it’s April 17th and I’m over it. After a brutal span of sick spells, and with the knowledge that what we put into our bodies directly affects our health, I’m on a mission to eat myself well.

As a result, I’ve rediscovered the delights of grain salads. Protein-rich grains make a meaty base for vegetarian salads that, on their own, are satisfying meals. The day I concocted this version, I knew it would become a staple in my diet. Packed with fresh green herbs, dried fruit and nuts, the addictive mixture would call to me even it didn’t get an A+ on the good-for-you test.

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Eating Healthy? Punch up Flavor with These Ingredients

By Lori Powell

I have missed you all and hope you feel the same. Happy New Year!! Now begins a new year full of what I hope will be blogs that inspire you to cook and eat super-delicious healthy food in 2012.

I have never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions but for some reason I am into it this year and hopefully that enthusiasm will linger long enough to get me back on track and make me feel stronger.

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Trail Mix – Mom’s Best Friend

By Marilyn Hunter

First comes hunger and then comes attitude. All you moms out there know what I’m talking about. Two hungry boys and one tired mom can be an awful combination.

To keep everyone happy, I never leave home without healthy snacks. Our healthy snack of choice is trail mix…perfect to stave off hunger and chock-full of natural energy and protein, carbs, and even potassium for important electrolytes on a hot day.

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