Indulgent Trip to Napa via In-Shell Pistachio Nuts!

 

I received free pistachio samples from the Pistachio Health Institute mentioned in this post. By posting this pairing I am entering a contest sponsored by Pistachio Health Institute and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Indulgent.  That seems like a bad word when it comes to food, and being and RD and all.  I believe in moderation.  I believe we can still eat good food that tastes great.  I also believe in chocolate cake and chocolate anything.  And nuts—any nuts—especially pistachio nuts.  They are my favorite.  So when I was thinking about ways to eat in-shell pistachio nuts, Napa came to mind.

A few years ago I went to a conference at the Culinary Institute in Napa and brought my husband.  It was incredible to say the least!  It was cold in Nebraska, and in the 60s in Napa.  It was green and beautiful.  One afternoon, we visited a winery, and had lunch outside on their grounds—very simple, crusty bread, cheese, wine and pistachio nuts.  It was pure Heaven.  Heavy sigh!

At the conference, they discussed in-shell pistachio nuts and their health benefits.  People eat fewer nuts if you have to take the time to crack them, and about 39 nuts equals 100 calories.  Nuts are heart healthy and the fat in them gives you satiety to get through until dinner if you have them as a snack.

So, my first thought for an indulgent trip to Napa was to put in-shell pistachio nuts together with artesian cheeses, a crusty baguette, dipping olive oil with spices, and a great bottle of cold wine.  Maybe add a few ripe strawberries—and it would be incredible.  I can’t fly to Napa today, but I can surely get that feeling again with this meal.  So today for lunch, this is exactly what we had.  So good!