It is no secret I have Italian in my blood, and if you were to take a poll on 'what food do people think of when they think Italian', 95% will say pasta.
Italian meals consist of many courses (as do most European meals), Apertivo (light appetizers), Antipasto (heavier fare consisting of cold foods), Primo (pasta, risotto, polenta, etc), Secondo (the main part of a meal that is usually ooked meat or fish), Contorno (side dishes), Insalata (salad), Fromaggi e frutta (cheeses & fruits), Dolce (pastries), Caffé (espresso) & Digestivo (Saltimbocca, grappa, etc.) .
If you stopped an Italian on the street and asked him which course is his favorite, 50% would say Antipasto.
I know that in my house at any time of year, not just in the summer, I will make a meal of foods presented on a large wooden board. Always finger foods, always convenience foods and always plentiful. It can consist of, to name a few, charcuterie, cheese, dried and fresh fruit, Gorgonzola-stuffed olives/peppers and nuts.
In our family there is a warm bowl of In-shell Pistachios to greet every guest as a 'welcome to my house'. They say...please sit, eat something, have a drink and relax. There is nothing better than a bowl of warm In-shell Pistachios to break the ice. It gives the guest a reason to make noise, make a mess and feel completely at home. Everyone loves In-shell Pistachios.
Recently, beer has made an appearance on the Italian table and along with all the other antipasto offerings, makes perfect sense. They say the best way to prepare a platter of snacks is to pair them with the same food/drink you are serving. and with the resurgence of craft beers from around the world in our own back yard, a Pilsner, even an Italian one, is as close as your neighborhood wine & beer store. I love the idea of beer to start the meal.
This post is about what I serve to my guests (and that includes one to a dozen) when there is a good reason for friends and family to get together. So sit, relax, crack open an in-shell pistachio or two, eat and enjoy!
In-shell Pistachios + cured meats + creamy cheeses + briny olives + fresh & dried fruits + crispy crackers + Pilsner beer = The Social Event of the Year
Now that the menu is out of the way, let's discuss the other reason that In-shell Pistachios should always be on your Apertivo/Antipasto table or snack tray.
In-shell pistachios make a great, everyday healthy snacking choice for people looking to satisfy a salty snack craving the smart way, and still do something good for themselves. In-shell pistachios are a deliciously simple way to snack healthy. A one-ounce serving of pistachios equals approximately 49 nuts, which is more nuts per serving than any other snack nut, and a reduced serving of about 30 in-shell pistachios is just about 100 calories.
Recent research from Harvard University and published in New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the benefits of snacking on nuts go up as the number of servings goes up, too.
Bottom line: more nuts, more benefits. Go for a daily handful of in-shell pistachios as part of a healthy diet. A daily handful of in-shell pistachios is a delicious and healthy everyday snack for those striving for seven servings a week.
Best reason for Diabetics to ♥ in-shell pistachios: Nuts are low in carbohydrate, have healthy fats, and are high in vegetable protein, fiber and magnesium. When eaten alone or with other foods, nuts tend to prevent a rapid rise in blood glucose levels
This contest was a collaboration of the Pistachio Health Institute and The Recipe Redux.
“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.”
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