{Pistachio Pairings} Popcorn, Chocolate Chips, and Iced Mint Tea

In-shell Pistachios + food A + food B + drink c = mmmmmmmm

This was the guide for this month's Recipe Redux sponsored contest - Pairing Pistachios. In-shell pistachios are a necessity in my house. My entire family is obsessed and can be frequently seen laying in bed with a heaping bowl of pistachios. Multiple trips to the grocery store each week have been made solely on the basis of stocking up on pistachios. My dad is notorious for hiding his own stash downstairs so the rest of us don't eat them all. Not to mention the shells are my cats favorite toy by far.

A recent study found that people who consumed in-shell pistachios ate 41 percent fewer calories than those who consumed pistachios without shells. This suggests that empty shells may be a helpful visual cue as to how much has been eaten – thereby potentially encouraging reduced calorie consumption.

In-shell pistachios are the greatest snack in my book. They're healthy, convenient, and can be paired with just about anything. And I mean anything. For example, here is my skinny nut/reduced calorie pistachio pairing:

“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.”

In-shell Pistachios + Popcorn + Chocolate Chips + Iced Mint Tea = mmmmmmm

{In this pairing, I used air-popped popcorn, dark chocolate chips, and an unsweetened mint iced tea.}

Enjoy!