Happy National Pistachio Day!

February 26th is National Pistachio Day!

Why Celebrate?

Pistachios are the best. Known as the “smiling nut” in the Middle East and the “happy nut” in China, pistachios have a unique shape and shell that is fun to crack. Truly, they are my favorite nut, and they belong to the cashew family. Which is cool because cashews are also tasty. If you like cashews, ya gotta give pistachios a try. Pistachio trees are primarily grown in the Middle East, and California. (Random?) These special little treats are in the top three most healthy nuts that you can eat! They are relatively low in calories per ounce, and contain a mix of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber. Snacking on pistachios will help you feel more full and suppress your appetite, while providing your body with the nutrition it needs! In other words, they are a seriously awesome power snack.

How to Celebrate

You have a lot of choices when it comes to how to enjoy pistachios today. Whole pistachios (fresh, roasted, or salted), pistachio ice cream, pistachio butter, pistachio paste, baklava, pistachio chocolate, pistachio halva, pistachio lokum, biscotti, and baklava! Did I say baklava twice? ? You can also make pistachio salad or pistachio pudding.

Video of the Day

“Sugar dates?! Sugar dates and fiiigs?! Sugar dates and pistaaachiooos?!” Naturally, when I think of pistachios, I think of this marketplace scene from Aladdin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW5n4sIOj9s?feature=oembed

Featured image via ShutterStock