What the hell is wrong with almonds and walnuts?

[strangedahlia]

I'd really love some input on this huge sticking point I have.

I love nuts. Out of all my raw cookbooks, the recipes I crave the most almost all require nuts or almonds to make.

Still for some reason, I can't seem to find almonds or nuts anywhere.

Don't get me wrong. I see the little packaging at the grocery store and health/nutrition stores. But first, I know for sure none of them are raw, and secundo, if I were to go with those, my almond craving would cost me at least 7$ per meal on average.

Please, tell me where I'm going wrong ?!?

[Humanist]

Nuts are to be eaten in moderation, even if you love them. You don't say where you live, but you might have to get almonds by mail order. Buy them in bulk. It is not easy to get raw almonds here in the USA, as they are illegal, but my local co-op has an international source.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i ask my local health food store to order me in some in bulk... i end up with a GREAT price!

[coco]

i partially or totally substitute seeds in recipes wherever i can. sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, flax, they are all good and much less expensive.

[sprouts2go]

I try to change out the nuts for seeds when I can.
1.because of the cost.
2.because the seeds don't sit like a rock in my stomach

[T-Bird]

Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, your local co-op, etc. are the sources I've found most reliable

The nuts at trader joes an whole foods are NOT raw, and likely not at your local coop either which is likely getting them from the same sources.

I order mine online from raw outlets, it's the only way to be sure you're getting raw. If you shop around in cyberspace, and buy at least 5 lgs at a time, you can get a decent price.

comparatively speaking.

[DebB]

I buy nuts at Costco even though they are not raw or organic. I don't know where you're located, but I order some nuts that are organic (and some raw) through Azure Standard (http://www.azurestandard.com/).

[DaisyHair]

The nuts at trader joes an whole foods are NOT raw, and likely not at your local coop either which is likely getting them from the same sources.

I order mine online from raw outlets, it's the only way to be sure you're getting raw. If you shop around in cyberspace, and buy at least 5 lgs at a time, you can get a decent price.

comparatively speaking.

I am brand new to the Raw world and have been doing LOTS of reading for the last month and just ran across this bit of info this morning re: Almonds all being pasteurized now (since 07? right?) if they are sold in the US.

I am surprised the ones I have been buying at WholeFoods can still be labeled as Raw.

I did find a good site on line that sells guaranteed Raw Organic almonds (and marconas.. YUM!) from Spain for prices that are about 20% higher than my WholeFoods.

I am so excited to have found this Raw forum!

[strangedahlia]

I'm located in Quebec, Canada.

I looked at some bulk retailers yesterday and even though buying in bulk might be expensive upfront, I believe that it would probably be the best choice for me.

As for seed, even those are relatively hard to find where I live.

My biggest concern over buying in bulk is how do you store nuts and seeds and how long can you keep them without them turning "bad"???

I'd hate to find myself having to throw away half of my order...

[T-Bird]

yeah - refrigerate in tightly sealed containers....

[luckitri]

Here in greater Phoenix area I am able to get "raw" almonds for $3.99 lb when they are on sale. They are not truly raw but in this case I have learnt that shopping sales at my HFS is much cheaper than ordering on-line. I freeze them. In nature nuts could freeze and still be fertile so that is one item I feel that freezing may not destroy enzymes. I could be wrong. Anyways, they seem to have a $3.99 lb sale on some kind of nut every week - Yaaaaaay! But macademias and pumpkin seeds and pine nuts almost never go on sale. I have had some success substituting Brazil nuts for macademias in some recipes. It would be great to have a chart of what uses substitutes are acceptable for and what recipes a substitute simply won't work.

I have read that prices in Quebec are pretty bad but also that good prices can be found - where I do not know.

[DebB]

I keep nuts and seeds in glass canning jars in the fridge. Since I have 2 of everything, the second set is kept in the freezer.

The nuts and seeds I keep in the fridge are my 'stash' and are all soaked, dehydrated and ready to go (I don't soak all nuts - just the ones with brown skins on them like almonds, etc. - I soak & dehydrate sunflower seeds too). That way they're all ready to grab and use in a recipe.

If it's not part of my stash, then it's in the freezer. *Ü*

[Gittel]

DebB, you sound so organized!

Luckitri, are soaked Brazil nuts creamy, as macademia nuts are?

Gittel

[ripal]

I'm in CA and luckily found a lady in Farmer's Market that sells raw almonds! First time I bought it from her, she sold me 3lb bag for $12. I was happy to get that price! Just 3 wks ago, I went to her again as I had used up the almonds I bought from her and she had them on sale for 3lb/$10!!!! Of course, I bought 2 bags this time! lol Half of the bag is soaked and dehydrated, ready to munch on them. Rest of them are stored in my freezer.