Culinary Nuts Incredible Edible Snack Option

Culinary Nuts Simply Delicious 

Culinary nuts are dry edible fruits or seeds containing high fat content. Nut in botany is described as a dry hard fruit that doesn't split open at maturity to release a single seed.  Many edible oily seeds are called nuts, especially those with a hard shell coating.  Many of these culinary nuts are referred to as drupe fruits including walnuts, almonds, coconuts, and pistachios.  The peanut is considered a legume that splits open along two and seems rich in essential nutrients.  Peanuts are ground nuts or monkey nuts known as legumes that are widely grown for its edible seeds. Peanuts are cultivated in 13 states across across the southern United States including many countries across the globe.  World production of peanuts was approximately 47 metric tons in 2020 with China being the world's largest producer.  In 2023 the United States produced 5.89 billion tons of peanuts which increased from 2022’s 5,54 billion pounds. 

Nut health benefits increases metabolic performance due to high micronutrients. One serving of peanuts is about 1 ounce equal to 28 grams or roughly 28 shelled peanuts including 161 calories, 14 grams of fat, 5.1 milligrams sodium, 4.6 grams carbohydrates, 4.2 grams of fiber per serving.  The peanut plant probably originated in Peru or Brazil although no fossil record exists to prove this theory.  The first notable increase of peanut consumption in the U.S. came in 1860 with the outbreak of the Civil War as Northern soldiers as well as southern used peanut as a dietary food option.  During the last half of the 19 th century peanuts were consumed freshly roasted by street vendors at baseball games and circuses or eaten as a popular snack by consumers.  Peanut production rose at the same time around the 1900 as equipment was invented for cultivating, planting, harvesting and picking peanuts from the plants more efficiently leading to an increase in production.  With the rise of mechanical aid, peanuts rapidly grew in popularity for its oils, roasted and salted nuts, peanut butter and candy. 

George Washington Carver began his research into peanuts in 1903 in Tuskegee Institute leading him to discover improvements in horticulture and the development of 300 uses for peanuts including shoe polish, and shaving cream.  Mechanized machinery simplified harvesting peanuts leading to greater productivity in the industry.  Today peanuts contribute over four billion U,S, dollars each year providing great tasting peanuts across the U.S. in 2024.  Simply nuts crunchy delightful flavors add packed full of protein garnish any dish. Culinary peanuts can be add to your favorite recipes like Chicken Pad Thai, Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, One Pan Ginger Chicken Meatballs, with Peanut Sauce, Peanut Butter Ramen, Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Peanut Romesco Sauce, Beef Rainbow Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce, Healthy Peanut Butter No Bake Protein Bits are sure to please.  Natures Garden Healthy Trail Mix functional deluxe trail mix nuts snacks combines walnuts, raw almonds, Pepitas, black raisins, golden raisins, unsalted peanuts, raw sunflower seeds, cranberries, walnuts, raw almonds, raw pistachios, pecans, raw pepitas,  Brazil nuts, hazelnuts made with natural ingredients. 

The convenient size makes snacking on nuts perfect for savory snackers on the move as a heart healthy option with only 180 calories per serving. National Nut Day is celebrated annually on October 22 of each year in effort to encourage the public to select healthy snack options.  It was created by Liberation Foods company in 2015 and is celebrated as a holiday devoted to all things nuts including recipes, tips and information spreading far throughout the United Kingdom and across the United States. Historically nuts have been consumed by humans for a long time as evidenced by archeological findings dating back to 780,000 B,C. Nuts are some of the world's most popular snack options across the globe available in a wide variety including walnuts, almonds, pistachios, pecans, peanuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts serve as a delicious snack option. 

Cheers!

Patricia Lynn

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