I have a weird relationship with pistachios. Not weird in the sense that we’ve been dating for years and pistachios are pressuring me to get married, but weird in the sense that I can’t stop eating them once I start. Now, this is probably true with a lot of people when it comes to nuts (and chips and some other snack foods), but I can remember being a kid and opening a bag or a can of them and not stopping until the entire container was empty. I like eating them with diet soda. Something about the flavor combo that really gets me. I don’t know what that says about me but I thought I’d mention it.
Today is National Pistachio Day, and while I don’t think any of us are going to be making our own pistachios today, there are certainly several recipes that involve the nut.
AllRecipes has a recipe for Pistachio Crusted Chicken (love the addition of Dijon mustard and honey), and this one is Oprah’s favorite (so you have to like it – national law). It’s a little more complex on the ingredients (Thai red curry paste, rosemary, Chinese black bean chili sauce, lemongrass, wine, buttermilk, Parmesan cheese), but looks quite tasty on top of the pasta.
Of course, you can also try some Pistachio Ice Cream (even if it is rather cold out right now). E-How has a rather simple recipe, though I didn’t know saffron was an ingredient in some Pistachio Ice Cream. Ice-Cream-Recipes.com has one that includes almond extract. Emeril Lagasse’s recipe sounds even more pistachio-y (if that’s a word), with lots of nuts in the ice cream and lots on top as a garnish.
Clacked by Bob Sassone 
on Jan 26, 2009 @ 13:28 EST5EDT
How funny! I had pistachios for snack this afternoon. I fully agree that it is impossible to stop eating them once you start. I wonder if it’s that wonderful saltiness? Or perhaps the hypnotic process of cracking open the shells. Mmmm.
I think cracking the shells is part of the addiction. You get into a certain rhythm and flow. That combined with the taste…suddenly you look down and the whole bag is almost empty.
And what to do about the ones that have a miniscule crack or sometimes no crack at all? Do you think I give up on those? No siree! I get them all open, one way or another!
p.s. – My dog’s name is Pistachio. Really!