St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and with it comes special treats that reflect the season. However, you don’t have to stop at traditional corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread. NutsOnline makes it easy for you to expand on the traditions and put a unique spin on your St. Paddy’s Day in style.

Even if you aren’t Irish, green goodies can help you get in the spirit on St. Patrick’s Day. Why not share some Leprechaun’s Delight with your friends and family? These kelly-green, chocolate-covered sunflower seeds are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face!

If chocolate isn’t your cup of tea, don’t fret! You may have more luck with green apple licorice twists, Jelly Belly green apple jelly beans or, if you crave a more savory option, green bean chips. Top some lamb (or even just a sandwich or some ice cream) with some gorgeous mint jelly to give a meal a special touch.

Pistachios, of course, are the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day snack. These green gems are deliciously healthy. One ounce of pistachios contains 10 percent of the Recommended Daily Value for dietary fiber, vitamin B-6, thiamin, phosphorus and copper. They’re also a fabulous source of protein, potassium and monounsaturated fats.

Want to make a special, but simple St. Patrick’s Day dessert? Try some Luck O’ The Irish Ice Cream Sandwiches on for size! Dump two quarts of softened pistachio ice cream into a bowl and mix in about one cup of chopped pistachios and a few drops of green food coloring. Scoop the ice cream in 1/3-cup servings onto chocolate or pistachio cookies. Top the sandwiches with the remaining cookies, line them up on a baking sheet and slide them into the freezer for two to three hours before gobbling them down.

These treats aren’t just reserved for March 17, of course. They’re great anytime you need a goody that’ll make your friends and family turn green with envy. Happy St. Patrick’s Day from NutsOnline!

When looking to amp up your diet, it’s important to work in some variety. Have you ever considered persimmons? These quirky, sometimes slightly sour fruits offer quite a few of the vitamins and minerals needed to keep you going.

Fresh persimmons are bright, reddish-orange fruits that resemble tomatoes. These spherical treats are often eaten when slightly soft, and some varieties can be used in baking. Like most yellow and orange produce items, persimmons are valued for their ability to help maintain vision and heart health. They also promote a healthy immune system, offering a vitamin C boost that can’t be beat.

Persimmons are a fantastic source of vitamins A and C, and they also offer a solid dose of manganese. This mineral aids in maintaining normal blood sugar levels, helps the body process cholesterol and fatty acids, and strengthens bones. Persimmons also contain vitamin B6 and potassium.

Soluble fiber is also found in persimmons, which is great news for those looking to increase heart health. Consuming this type of fiber has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and ward off heart disease.

If you don’t live in a region where fresh persimmons are readily available, don’t fret. Dried persimmons offer most of the same health benefits, along with a buttery, smooth texture and rich flavor. These treats, which contain no additional sugar or other additives, can be nibbled as a nutritious snack or used to make persimmon tea.

Persimmon tea is a natural acid reflux remedy that is most prevalent in Asian herbal medicine. The brew, which is sometimes known as persimmon punch is a daily digestive aid, and making it from scratch is simple.

Combine 2 quarts of water, ½ cup of thinly sliced ginger and three cinnamon sticks in a saucepan and simmer the ingredients over medium heat for 30 minutes. Remove the tea from the heat and pour it through a fine mesh strainer to remove the ginger and cinnamon sticks. Add 1 cup of dried persimmons and 1-½ cups of white sugar to the mixture and allow it to cool. Put it in the refrigerator overnight, then serve it cold with a teaspoon of pine nuts floating on top of each cup if desired. If you don’t like to use white sugar in cooking, try substituting honey or another natural sweetener to taste.

Give persimmons a whirl, won’t you? Whether you’re using the fruit to treat an existing ailment like acid reflux or just looking to add some variety to your diet, persimmons offer solid nutrition and an addicting flavor that is truly unique.

The unique spice of ginger is something that’s often enjoyed in cookies, cakes and teas. But did you know that the knobby rhizome lends more than just a snappy kick to foods?

Ginger has long been touted as having medicinal benefits. Since ancient times, Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal medicine has used it to treat a variety of ailments, including stomach upset, colic, heart conditions and arthritis. It turns out that in many cases science backs up those traditions.

Perhaps the most common modern medical use for ginger root is in the treatment of nausea and vomiting. Doctors often recommend that those who regularly experience mild motion sickness munch on ginger-laced items to quell the symptoms. Pregnant women with morning sickness can also get some relief by chewing on pieces of the rhizome or sipping ginger tea.

Ginger is also widely used as a natural remedy for hot flashes related to menopause and cancer treatments. Chewing on ginger or ginger-flavored items can calm the sudden-onset symptoms as they occur and prevent them from returning.

When it comes to viruses like the common cold, ginger can also be a helpful recovery aid. Ginger tea soothes sore throats, producing a numbing sensation. The spicy tea can also open up clogged nasal passages and relieve coughing.

Modern doctors aren’t entirely sure why ginger helps ease the symptoms of so many ailments. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that the volatile oils and pungent phenol compounds found in ginger root are thought to be the active components, but it hasn’t been studied thoroughly enough to make a definite conclusion. Regardless of the reason, many health professionals who ascribe to natural remedies can’t get enough of this wonder rhizome.

There are many different ways to work ginger into your diet. Adding fresh ginger to your food or boiling it in water to make a ginger herbal tea is always an option, of course. If you don’t have the fresh version on hand, you can also get that gingery goodness from other sources. Crystallized ginger is a spicy, sweet treat that’s very popular and great to take on the go. You can also steep a sugary slice in hot tea to give your drink some pep. Ground ginger can be added to soups, hot drinks or baked goods like breads, cookies and muffins. Candies containing ginger oil, such as Ginger Cuts, can soothe coughs. If you crave something a bit more luxurious, dark chocolate ginger slices may be right up your alley.

It’s important to check with your doctor if you’re taking prescription medications on a regular basis before beginning an herbal treatment plan that includes ginger. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, studies have shown that ginger can interact with blood-thinning medications. Once you get the go-ahead, dive right in! Even when you’re feeling top-notch, ginger can spice up your day and your diet.

See some NutsOnline customer testimonials on crystallized ginger here.

Candy buffets are quickly becoming all the rage at wedding receptions, and we can see why. What could be more fun than providing your guests with a sweet take-home treat to remember your special day by?

Setting up a candy buffet is simple and, in most cases, fairly economical. The base of the buffet should be a big table, along with some boxes of various sizes to give the buffet visual height. Arrange the boxes on the table, then drape a large, neutral-colored tablecloth over the whole thing. Place a clear, attractive vase on top of each box and fill the vases with different varieties of treats. Make sure to provide scoops or tongs for each vase to allow guests to select their candies in a sanitary way. Stack some personalized bags or containers at one end of the buffet that guests can fill and keep as souvenirs.

When it comes to candy buffets, buying big is key. It’s safe to estimate that you’ll need a minimum of one-fourth to one-half of a pound of candy for each guest in attendance at the reception. Another way to determine the amount of candy you’ll need is to purchase the take-home containers first, figure out the number of ounces they hold and buy enough candy to completely fill each of them. To create the most eye-catching candy buffet, offer five to 10 different varieties of treats. Popular choices include Jordan Almonds, jelly beans, mint lentils, and more.

That may sound like a lot of sugar, and it probably is more candy than most guests are likely to take. Keep in mind that, visually speaking, the display will look far more attractive if some candy remains in the containers throughout the evening. It’s better to have leftover sweets than not enough for each guest to take his or her share.

Candy buffets are great additions to wedding receptions because they are so easy to personalize. For example, the bride and groom can set up a retro-style display of items that were their childhood favorites, such as candy necklaces, gummy bears, and lollipops. It’s simple to create an elegant buffet by choosing sweets that match the wedding colors and adding an arrangement of coordinating flowers to the table. The candy buffet can even reflect the location of the wedding; for example, a couple getting married at the seashore might choose items like saltwater taffy, and colorful rock candy.

Not a huge fan of sugary sweets? No problem! Savory items complement most candies well and are a great addition to any candy buffet (particularly one that contains a fair amount of chocolate). Try tamari almonds, macadamia nuts, and wasabi cashews, for example. You can also mix the sweet and savory with items like chocolate-covered espresso beans.

If you are going to include nuts on your candy buffet, be mindful of guests who may have severe allergies. Keep the nuts and candies, along with their serving utensils, in separate vases at all times, and label them with place cards, either placed in front of each vase or clipped to the top of each container.

The containers that the guests will take home should really reflect the personal nature of the event. Have fun with them! Some ideas include purchasing Chinese-takeout-style boxes in the wedding colors, decorating clear party bags with monogrammed stickers or ordering inexpensive tins with the names of the bride and groom and the wedding date printed on them.

At the end of the day, a candy buffet is more than just a way to appease reception guests with a sweet tooth. It can also serve as a striking centerpiece in any party hall. A well-done, creative candy buffet will draw quite a bit of attention both as a decor element and as a fun, hands-on experience.

Browse NutsOnline’s wide selection of wedding candy here.

Are you ALIVE?   Well, you’d better be!!! We just added the entire sprouted nut product line from this great company called Living Intentions. Instead of roasting their nuts, they sprout them, which is a process that involves soaking the nuts in water and then seasoning and gently air-drying at low temperatures less than 115 degrees. Drying at low temperatures, instead of roasting, protects all of the live enzymes and nutrients. The end result is LIVE nuts! Check out the great flavor sprouted products below:

Acai Blueberry Superfood Cereal

Cacao Crunch Superfood Cereal

Chia Ginger Superfood Cereal

Cilantro Lime Pistachios & Pepitas

Hemp & Greens Superfood Cereal

Pink Salt & Cracked Pepper Mixed Nuts & Seeds

Sprouted Super Flour

Sweet & Spicy Chipotle Pistachios

Wild Berry Sprouted Trail Mix

Rosemary Garlic Pistachios & Almonds

Sesame Teriyaki Almonds & Cashews

Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds

Mango Goji Fire Sprouted Trail Mix

Maple Mesquite Pod Walnuts

Raw Cacao Brazil Nuts & Mulberries

Sprouted Almonds

White Chocolate Chip Almonds, Cashews & Cacao Nibs

Raw Cacao Almonds & Raisins

Sun Dried Marinara Almonds & Pistachios

Nutty ladies and gentlemen…Everyone in our family here has sweet tooths and love baked goodies.  As in love love! And we’ve been dying to offer baked goods, but not just any baked goods.  We have really amazing plans, but we want to do it right and come as close to perfection as possible.  So, what better than a pecan pie right before Thanksgiving. Oh My! Pecan Pie!!!

Oh my! is exactly what you will say when you sink your teeth into quite possibly the most amazing pecan pie. EVER. We don’t use tiny little pecans in this bad boy. We use our premium mammoth sized pecans. Guaranteed to have a mouthful of pecans in every single bite. Love the gooey sweet center of a pecan pie? Just wait until your taste buds get to the middle of this pie. Made by hand in small batches, we promise this is as good, if not better, than grandma’s pecan pie.

I randomly woke up in the middle of the night a few weeks ago to find an email from a friend.  She and her family were still awake discussing the taste and merits of our milk chocolate covered gummy bears.  They were in utter amazement to say the least.

Now, we’ve been selling both milk and white chocolate gummy bears for years and it dawned on me that people these days (and maybe always) are a lot more keen on dark chocolate….without further ado, I introduce to you dark chocolate covered gummy bears!

Ever have bubble tea?  If not, you really should get on it.  We’ve got the black tapioca pearls, the bubble tea straws, and some amazing flavors, like matcha green tea, honeydew, and passion fruit.  Enjoy!

My friend loves our products, especially our natural and organic items.  However, he really wanted smaller pack sizes to bring to work each day.  Well, Geoff, here’s our answer:

 Snack Packs

Perfect to bring to work, to school, or on a hike, we’re making it easy for you to stay healthy and eat deliciously!   You can pick from over 500 products.  Each snack pack box have 12 packages, each around 3 or 4 ounces.

Drum roll….Ever hear of mochi?  What?!?!  Ok, this was a personal crusade for me.  I lived in Hawaii about 5 years ago and would enjoy mochi all the time.  It tastes way better than it sounds, so I won’t pretend to do it justice, but think of soft, chewy, rice cakes with a remarkable texture.  Darn, that hardly describes it.  Well, whatever.  So, back on the mainland this delicious treat is much harder to come by.

However…In my neck of the woods there has been this yogurt craze with tons of copycat shops popping up like Pinkberry, Red Mango, and Berry Wild.  You can get really great yogurt, but it’s more about the toppings…And, yes, you guessed it!  Hands down, the best topping are these small mochi balls.  Trust me.  Sometimes though I don’t feel like paying 6 bucks for a yogurt.  I just want the Mochi, and I don’t want to fly back to Hawaii.

Are you sitting down?

Mochi Rice Cakes in the house!

First, the same exact variety you will find at the yogurt shops, regular mochi rice cakes:

And we didn’t stop there.

To add even more excitement, we ran with rainbow mochi rice cakes and what may actually be the hippest and most delish, black sesame mochi rice cakes

Rainbow Mochi Rice Cakes

Black Sesame Mochi Rice Cakes