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White Chocolate Pistachio Fudge Recipe & Fudge Holidays

February 26th is National Pistachio Day.

Long, long ago, if we had been a good girl, Mom would take us to Howard Johnson’s for a pistachio hot fudge sundae.

Howard Johnson’s is long gone, and it isn’t easy to find pistachio ice cream. But here’s an easy recipe for pistachio fudge.

In fact, if you’ve never made fudge, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is.

By the way, March 14th is White Day in Japan, a tradition where men reciprocate the gifts they received from women on Valentine’s Day, typically with sweets. So men: Get cooking!

Below:

> Pistachio overview.

> The fudge recipe.

> More pistachio recipes.

> The the year’s fudge holidays.

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> The history of fudge.

> The history of pistachio nuts.

> The year’s 38 nut holidays.

> The year’s 60+ candy holidays.
 
 
RECIPE: WHITE CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO FUDGE WITH
CRANBERRIES

This recipe is adadpted from Just A Pinch.

If you like a sweet-and-salty profile, use salted pistachios.

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 20 ounces/about 3 cups white chocolate chips
    (or better, chopped quality white chocolate)
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces shelled natural pistachios
  • 1 cup dried cranberries (substitute dried cherries)
  •  
    Preparation

    1. COAT a 9″ square cake pan with cooking spray and set aside. Melt the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk in a heavy-bottomed pot over low heat. Stir constantly until the mixture is smooth; then immediately remove from the heat.

    2. STIR in the cranberries, pistachios and vanilla. Spread into the pan and smooth the top. Let cool to room temperature (or chill), then cut into squares.
     
     
    MORE PISTACHIO RECIPES

  • Fennel Pistachio Cookies
  • Flourless Persian Pistachio Cake
  • Kale, Bacon & Pistachio Pasta
  • Pistachio Biscochitos
  • Pistachio Muffins
  • Pistachio Orange Relish
  • Strawberry Pistachio Nougat
  • Vanilla Cardamom Whoopie Pies With Pistachios
  •  
     
    PISTACHIOS FROM CALIFORNIA

    While pistachio fudge doesn’t count as health food, the nuts themselves are nutritious. And California produces the best pistachios in the world!
    California’s Santa Barbara County is an oasis of rolling hills, ancient oak trees and cattle ranches. It boasts more than 60 wineries and 21,000 acres of vines under cultivation.

     

    White Chocolate Pistachio Fudge
    [1] White chocolate pistachio fudge (photo via Seduction Meals).

    White Chocolate Pistachio Fudge
    [2] Add some Baileys Irish Cream. Here’s the recipe from Eat Good 4 Life.

    White Chocolate Fudge With Pistachios and Cranberries
    [3] Add some cranberries. Here’s the recipe from Taste And Tell Blog.

    Pistachio Nuts
    [4] Premium pistachios from Murray’s Cheese.

     
    With such neighbors, the lovely family-farmed pistachio orchards that make Santa Barbara County America’s pistachio capital, might feel like so much chopped liver…if the nuts weren’t equally as noteworthy (nutworthy?). The area grows the best pistachios in the world.

    Pistachios are a nut bargain:

  • At 160 calories/ounce, they tie with cashews for the lowest calories.
  • At 6g protein/ounce, they tie with almonds for the most protein and the most fiber (3g/ounce).
  • At 13g fat/ounce, they tie with cashews for the lowest fat.
  • They also have the most beta-carotene, B6, lutein, phosphorus, phytosterols (which lower your absorption of dietary cholesterol from other foods), potassium, thiamin and zeaxanthin.
  • A heart-healthy nut, studies have shown that adding pistachios to the diet result in significant decreases in total cholesterol and LDL (bad fat) and increases in HDL (good fat), potentially leading to a reduced risk of heart disease.
  •  
    We’re not going to tell you that the pistachio fudge recipe below is health food, but the fudge is delicious.

  • Here’s more about why you should trade macadamias, peanuts and certain other nuts for pistachios.
  • Pistachios used to come from Iran. Here’s how pistachios became a California crop.
  •  
    THE YEAR’S 6 FUDGE HOLIDAYS

  • May 12: National Nutty Fudge Day
  • June 16: National Fudge Day
  • July 22: National Penuche Fudge Day
  • July 25: National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
  • November 4: National Candy Day
  • November 20: National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
  •  
    Plus:

  • June: National Candy Month
  •  
    Apricot White Chocolate Fudge
    [5] Instead of cranberries, you can use any dried fruit. Here, it’s apricots. The recipe (photo © Taste Of Home).
     

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    TIP OF THE DAY: Hummus Salad

    Hummus Salad
    [1] For lunch, top hummus with a Greek salad (photo courtesy DeLallo Foods).

    Hummus Salad
    [2] Another way to plate. You can create variety with chopping techniques: dicing, julienning, shaving, spiralizing, etc. (photo courtesy DeLallo Foods).

    Hummus Salad
    [3] A “rainbow salad” topped with flavored hummus (photo courtesy Bush’s Beans).

     

    Most Americans enjoy hummus as a dip. That’s how we served it last night for Oscar fare, with crudités and pita chips.

    But we also like hummus as a luncheon dish, with a variety of salad toppings. You can also set it up as a DIY buffet.

    Today’s tip: Add hummus to Greek salad ingredients. Here’s what you need for your dish.
     
    RECIPE: HUMMUS SALAD

    Ingredients

  • Hummus (consider two or three flavors of hummus instead of one)
  • Feta
  • Kalamata olives
  • Red bell peppers, raw or roasted (pimento)
  • Pepperoncini
  • Tomato (depending on the season, cherry tomatoes may be best)
  • Cucumber
  • Red onion or scallion
  • Stuffed grape leaves
  • Garnish: fresh chopped basil, dill, oregano, parsley
  • Optional dressing: extra virgin olive oil, red wine or balsamic vinegar
  •  
    Whatever Else You Like

  • Anchovies, sardines, tuna
  • Baby potatoes
  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Chickpeas
  • Falafel (get them frozen at Trader Joe’s)
  • Hard-boiled eggs
  • Marinated eggplant
  • Pickled vegetables
  • Radishes
  • Roasted vegetables (substitute for the fresh ones)
  • Romaine
  •  
    For A Layered Salad

    Instead of all hummus, divide the bottom layer into:

  • Hummus
  • Babaganoush
  • Tabbouleh
  • Tzatziki or Greek yogurt*
  •  
    Serve with a side of pita, or turn pita chips into croutons for the salad.
     
     
    MORE WAYS TO USE HUMMUS

    THE HISTORY OF HUMMUS

    ________________

    *For more flavor, mixed chopped dill and/or scallions or chives into the yogurt. If you have it, add a bit of lemon zest.

     

      

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    RECIPE: Cherry Tonic (Mocktail) & More Recipes For Washington’s Birthday

    Cherry Cooler
    [1] Have a cherry juice tonic to celebrate Washington’s birthday (photo © Liv Friis-Larsen | iStock Photo).

    Cherry  Pie
    [2] Cherry pie is always welcome. Here’s the recipe for this beauty. February 20th is National Cherry Pie Day (photo © Cherry Marketing Institute).

    Cherry Cheesecake Chocolate Glaze
    [3] Cherry cheesecake with chocolate glaze. (Here’s the recipe from Betty Crocker. April 23rd is National Cherry Cheesecake Day (photo © Betty Crocker).

    Cherries Jubilee
    [4] Cherries Jubilee, created for Queen Victoria. Here’s the recipe (photo © Roberts Dairy).

    Cherry Almond Rugelach on a plate.
    [5] Cherry almond rugelach. Here’s the recipe (photo © QVC).

     

    The recipes are below. But first, a word about America’s first president, George Washington, born on February 22nd, 1732. While we now know the story about the cherry tree to be a myth, the tradition of enjoying a cherry pie or other cherry foods doesn’t have to get tossed out with it.

    If you follow American history, you may know that a number of facts attributed to George Washington were made up after his death.

  • Washington did not throw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. Not only is the Potomac more than a mile wide—and an Olympic discus champion might falter at that distance—but there were no silver dollars when Washington was a young man.
  • He did not chop down the cherry tree and then say to his father, “I cannot tell a lie.” Ironically, this story is itself a lie, made up by Mason Weems, an early biographer of George Washington (and a parson, no less), to illustrate Washington’s honesty.
  •  

  • Here are more fun facts about Washington.
  • Check out George Washington’s Favorite Foods.
  •  
    Celebrate with the Cherry Tonic mocktail recipe (photo #1) that follows the list of cherry holidays. There are even more cherry recipes below.
     
     
    CHERRY HOLIDAYS

  • January 3rd is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day.
  • February is National Cherry Month.
  • February 20th is National Cherry Pie Day.
  • April 23rd is National Cherry Cheesecake Day.
  • May 17th is National Cherry Cobbler Day.
  • May 26th is National Cherry Dessert Day.
  • July 11th is National Rainer Cherry Day.
  • July 16th is National Cherry Day.
  • August 26th is National Cherry Popsicle Day.
  • August 28th is National Cherry Turnover Day.
  • September 1st is National Cherry Popover Day.
  • September 24th is National Cherries Jubilee Day.
  •  
     
    RECIPE: CHERRY TONIC (MOCKTAIL)

    Celebrate the day with this Cherry Tonic (photo #1). You can adjust the proportions of the drink to please your palate. For a deeper cherry flavor, use more cherry juice and less tonic water.

    You can make the drink alcoholic with gin, tequila, or vodka.

    If you prefer a beer: George Washington brewed his own, including pumpkin ale. He also enjoyed hot chocolate and egg nog.

    Ingredients

  • Tonic water
  • Cherry juice
  • Lime wedge
  • Optional: fresh or frozen cherries
  •  
    Preparation Per Drink

    1. ADD ice to a highball glass. If using cherries, place 4 or 5 of them on top of the ice.

    2. POUR in a tonic water, to 2/3 of the way up the glass.

    3. TOP off with tart cherry juice (our favorite is R. W. Knudsen Organic Just Tart Cherry juice). Stir.

    4. GARNISH with a lime wedge and serve.
     
     
    MORE CHERRY RECIPES & FACTS

  • Black Forest Cake
  • Cherries Jubilee
  • Cherry Almond Rugelach
  • Cherry Brownies
  • Cherry Cheesecake With Chocolate Glaze (photo #3)
  • Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Cherry Cobbler
  • Cherry Cocktails
  • Cherry Gastrique (sauce for meat and fish)
  • Cherry History
  • Cherry Home Fries
  • Cherry Ice Cubes
  • Cherry Ice Pops (Popsicles)
  • Cherry Lattice Pie
  • Cherry Mango Salsa For Fish & Chicken
  • Cherry Meringue Slab Pie
  • Cherry Nut Dip & Spread
  • Cherry Pie Pops
  • Cherry Pomegranate Mojito
  • Cherry Popovers
  • Cherry Sorbet
  • Cherry Tart With Lemon Mascarpone Filling
  • Cherry Turnovers
  • Cherry Yogurt Parfait
  • Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
  • Easy Cherry Pie (photo #2)
  • Frozen Cherry Margarita
  • Goat Cheese Salad With Dried Cherries
  • Salad With Blue Cheese & Dried Cherries
  • Spiced Cherries
  • Turkey Cherry Chili
  •  

     
     

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    Margarita Recipes & A Margarita Party For National Margarita Day

    National Margarita Day is February 22nd. Coincidentally, it’s the birthday of George Washington, who never had a tequila drink since Colonials didn’t know about tequila. (He drank beer and porter, which he brewed on his estate. He also liked Madeira, a fortified wine produced on the Portuguese island of Madeira. He also planted American grapes for wine. He had tried planting Madeira, but the grapes were not successful in the Virginia soil.)

    The Margarita has become America’s favorite cocktail. Here’s the history of the Margarita.

    According to The Nielsen CGA On-Premise Consumer Survey, a snapshot of America’s eating and drinking habits in restaurants and bars, the Margarita iw the preferred cocktail of 60% of Americans—thus, the most popular cocktail in the U.S.

    Runners up are the Daiquiri, Piña Colada, Long Island Iced Tea and Mojito.

    > 35+ Margarita recipes are below.

    > Also below, how to throw a Margarita cocktail party.

    Elsewhere on The Nibble:

    > The history of the Margarita.

    > The history of the Margarita glass.

    > The history of tequila and the different types of tequila.

    > The year’s 50+ cocktail and spirits holidays.
     
     
    MARGARITA VS. NOT A MARGARITA

    Is everything with tequila a Margarita? Of course not—although it might seem so, given the number of recipes sent to us called Margarita, but are other tequila cocktails.

    It’s a [bad] marketing play: Mixologists know that something called Margarita will sell better. Here’s how to identify a Margarita vs. another tequila drink.

    But there are acceptable variations on the Margarita. With only three ingredients (tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice) plus a salt rim, bartenders around the world have the creative license to add fruit purées, chiles, and herbs to make Margarita variations.

    Here are some of them:
     
     
    35+ MARGARITA RECIPES

  • Banana Margarita
  • Blue Margarita
  • Chanukah Margarita
  • Classic Margarita
  • Cranberry, Grapefruit & Pomegranate Margaritas
  • Cranberry-Orange Margarita
  • Deconstructed Margarita: 3 Cocktail Shots
  • Deconstructed Margarita 2
  • Different Margarita Rimmers
  • 4 Margarita Recipes: Original, Classic, Frozen & Non-Alcoholic Margarita Recipes
  • Frozen Grape Margarita
  • Frozen Kiwi Cilantro Margarita
  • Frozen Cherry Margarita
  • French Margarita
  • Frozen Cranberry Margarita
  • Frozen Grape Margarita
  • Frozen Margarita Mocktail
  • Ginger Margarita
  • Green Margarita With Spring Peas & Tarragon
  • Guavarita With Jalapeño
  • Irish Margarita
  • Mama Rita Margarita With Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Margarita Glass Rimmers
  • Misteltoe Margarita For Christmas & New Year’s Eve
  • Original, Frozen, & Non-Alcoholic Margaritas
  • Passionfruit Margarita
  • Peach Margarita (Peacharita)
  • Pineapple Margarita
  • Pineapple Lime Cilantro Margarita
  • Pink Cranberry Margarita
  • Pomegranate “Ruby” Margarita
  • Smokin’ Margarita
  • Spicy Margarita
  • Spicy Watermelon Margarita
  • Strawberry Margarita
  • Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shots
  •  
    Plus:

  • Four Margarita Mocktails
  • A Margarita Sundae
  • And more to come!
  •  
     
    ARE YOU READY TO PARTY?

     

    Smoked Salt Margarita Rim
    [1] A classic Margarita with a twist: a smoked salt rim (photo © Casa Noble Tequila).

    Thai Margarita Hibiscus Rim
    [2] Add some heat; here, a Thai Margarita with hibiscus, a Thai chile, and black lava salt rim (photo © Miro Kitchen).

    Grape Margarita
    [3] A black grape frozen Margarita. Here’s the recipe from the California Table Grape Commission.

    Cherry Margarita
    [4] A Cherry Margarita. Here’s the recipe (photo © Created By Diane).

    Blue Curacao Margarita
    [5] A Blue Margarita, made with Blue Curaçao instead of a clear orange liqueur. Here’s the recipe (photo © a3tabacos | Pexels).

     
    MARGARITA COCKTAIL PARTY

    We’ve just given you a treasure trove of Margarita recipes. So how about planning a Margarita party?

    Any day is good for the party, although February 22nd (National Margarita Day), May 5th (Cinco de Mayo), and July 24th (National Tequila Day) are good candidates.

    Here’s how to throw a Margarita party the easy way:

  • Invite your Margarita-loving friends to a “co-op” party: Everyone brings a different recipe, mixed in their home.
  • You provide the munchies and one of the Margarita recipes.
  • Provide plastic shot glasses instead of rocks glasses, so guests can try the different recipes without getting snockered.
  • Have a selection of non-alcoholic soft drinks, mineral water, iced tea, lemonade, or other juice drinks so guests can switch off between Margaritas.
  • Keep the party to two hours (because, how much should anyone drink?); and arrange for designated drivers or ride-share service.
  • Here are ideas for a Tex-Mex Margarita brunch.
  • Don’t forget dessert: Margarita cupcakes!
  •  
    What more can we say than: Enjoy yourself but drink responsibly!
     
     
    DID YOU KNOW…

    Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo, on May 6th; but September 16th is the real Mexican Independence Day. Here’s the scoop.
     
    Classic Margarita With No Salt
    [6] No salt? No problem! (photo © Sarah Gualtieri | Unsplash)
     

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    TIP OF THE DAY: Uses For Marmalade & Recipe For Marmalade Olive Oil Cake

    Orange Marmalade
    [1] The most popular use for marmalade: as a bread spread (photo courtesy Beth’s Farm Kitchen).

    Olive Oil Cake
    [2] Olive oil cake with a marmalade topping. The recipe is below. (photos 2 and 3 courtesy Lucero Olive Oil).

    Orange Agrumato Olive Oil
    [3] Mandarin orange agrumato olive oil. Learn about agrumato below.

    Coconut Shrimp With Marmalade
    [4] Coconut shrimp with marmalade dipping sauce. Here’s the recipe from Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

     

    Marmalade is a soft citrus-based jelly that includes the flesh and often the peel of the fruit, suspended throughout the jelly base. The sweetness of the jelly is offset by the bitterness of the peel.

    Some products that are called marmalade—onion and tomato marmalades, for example—are actually misnamed jams and preserves. Here are the different types of jam, jelly and other sweet spreads.

    Marmalade can be made from kumquats, lemons, limes, grapefruits, mandarins, oranges (bergamot, Seville, sweet oranges) and other citrus fruits. It can be made from a single fruit or a combination.

    Here’s the history of marmalade, which dates back some 2,000 years.

    Beyond bread, toast and other breakfast breads, there are many other uses for marmalade. In most applications, warm the marmalade first.

    > National Marmalade Day is March 5th.
     
     
    BEYOND BREAD: 30 MORE USES FOR MARMALADE

  • Baked apple/pear sauce
  • Baked brie topping
  • Barbecue sauce enhancement (stir it in)
  • Batter swirl: brownie batter, cornbread, pound cake, etc.
  • Cake frosting or filling
  • Cheese condiment
  • Cocktail with gin, tequila or vodka (combine in a cocktail shaker or add to a bottle)
  • Compound butter
  • Cookies (sandwich cookies, thumbprints, etc.)
  • Cranberry relish (instead of fresh oranges)
  • Cream cheese block (top with marmalade for a bread/cracker spread
  • Crêpes and omelet filling
  • Dipping sauce (with mayonnaise, sour cream, yogurt)
  • Fried chicken condiment
  • French toast, pancake or waffle topping
  • Glaze for simple cakes (angel cake, cheesecake, pound cake) and fruit tarts, brisket, fish, ham/pork/sausages, poultry (heat jam with some of water or lemon juice until it melts; then pour on top)
  • Gourmet pizza (blue cheese, marmalade and prosciutto on a ricotta base, or a fresh fruit pizza, for example)
  • Grilled cheese or BLT sandwich spread
  • Homemade ice cream (add some Grand Marnier!)
  • Ice cream/sorbet topping (make a “Creamsicle” with vanilla ice cream)
  • Marmalade fool (fresh fruit folded with whipped cream and marmalade)
  • Marmalade popsicles (thin with juice or water and freeze)
  • Marinades
  • Oatmeal or grains mix-in
  • Pan sauce (deglaze the pan)
  • Poke cake
  • Salad dressing (mix a spoonful into a vinaigrette)
  • Sandwich spread (cheese, ham, turkey, vegetable)—alone or mixed with mayonnaise or mustard
  • Smoothie mix-in
  • Yogurt or cottage cheese mix-in
  •  
     
    RECIPE: ORANGE OLIVE OIL CAKE WITH MARMALADE TOPPING

    Here’s a cake recipe from Lucero Olive Oil that brightens any winter day. It tides us over before spring begins to bring local fresh fruit.
     
    You’ll notice that one of the ingredients is Lucero’s Mandarin Orange Agrumato Olive Oil. Agrumato is a process developed in the Italian region of Abruzzo.

    Oranges or lemons were crushed simultaneously with the olives to produce exceptionally flavored olive oils. Agrumi means citrus in Italian; to make a food “agrumato” is to make it citrusy.

     
    Today the crushing technique is used with other fruits, herbs such as basil and oregano, and some of the onion family (garlic, onions and shallots).

    Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ¾ cup Lucero Mandarin Orange Agrumato Olive Oil (substitute other orange olive oil)
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon Maldon sea salt or substitute
  • ⅔ cup buttermilk
  • 1½ cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup thick-cut orange marmalade (substitute 2 tablespoons powdered sugar)
  •  
    Preparation

    1. PREHEAT the oven to 350°F. Apply 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil liberally to a 9” cake pan.

    2. BEAT the eggs and sugar in mixer until foamy, approximately 2 minutes. Add the salt, buttermilk, and orange agrumato olive oil, continuing to beat until combined (about 1 additional minute at medium speed).

    3. COMBINE the flour, baking powder and baking soda in a separate bowl combine. Using the lowest mixing speed, add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and process until the mixture is only just combined. Avoid over-mixing.

    4. TRANSFER the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the center of the cake comes out clean using a toothpick or cake tester, about 30 minutes.

    5. COOL the cake in the pan for about ten minutes, then turn onto a rack to completely cool.

    6. DECORATE by spooning warm marmalade over the top of the cake right before serving, or by sifting powdered sugar over the top.
     
     

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