Replacing Almonds for more expensive nuts and seeds

[Invisible]

HEllO!

I know many of you are struggling to stay all raw in this econonmy, right? I am, I know for sure. SOO, I have had to come up with something to replace the very very expensive ( $17.00 a pound) Macadamia nuts and cashews in many of raw foods' recipies! SO, I have been battling whether or not to use almonds from the HFS, knowing full well that they say they are raw, but they indeed, are pasturized! Finally, I have come to the conclusion that it's just not worth the battle to figure it out and that I'm just going to use the HFS ones, anyway and let my health benifit for not worrying about whether or not they are raw anymore, because somettimes they may be who knows? I mean, this could go on for the rest of my life, so I decided to use almonds instead of any other nut. Well, I'm here to tell you that they are just as good as the more expensive nuts out there. Now, the almonds I am using aren't even Organic (that is yet another hurdle for me to overcome....should I buy conventional or none at all and eat frozen or just not eat them at all?? Or, worse yet, to go back to the cooked version just because they are not organic?? HELLLLOOOO???? I've just decided to not worry about that stuff, and if it's organic and similiar in price, I'lll buy it, otherwise, the conventional, with a HUGE blessing from God over it, will satisify me nicely, thank you very much!!! :) WHEW, thanks for listening to my thoughts. Anyway, I've included some nutritional facts about almonds that I think you might find interesting.... especially since almonds are only $6.00 a pound v.s. 16.00 dollars a pound!!!

Almonds are one of the most nutritious of all nuts.
Prevents Cancer: Studies have found almonds are low in saturated fat and many other protective nutrients...calcium and magnesium, vitamin E and compounds called phytochemicals, which may help prevent cardiovascular problems. Almonds also contain rhizveritrol, the anti inflammmatory agent found in red wines.

PROTEIN, folks!! WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR PROTEIN??? Say, (all together, now!) ALMONDS!!! Yep, it's true. In one small ounce of almonds you will get 12 percent of your protein requirements!!

Calcium. a hanful of these little gems gives you as much calcium as 1/4 cup of milk!! They are also rich in folic acid and great if you're pregnant!! And, for strong bones and teeth....you can't beat almonds for magnesium. Even oatmeal and spinach can't beat out almonds for magnesium!!! If you've been on the raw food diet and notice your teeth are not as healthy as they should be.......almonds.

So, that is today's lesson. Hope you enjoyed it!

Invisible:cool:

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

I always use cashews instead of macs. I rarely find macadamia nuts that aren't roasted and salted anyway.

Another option would be to buy them in the shell. I don't know what the price difference is but I bet it's quite a lot.
Not the easiest nut to crack though :D

[coco]

Sunflower and pumpkin seeds. I can grow them myself, buy them locally produced, they cost a fraction of the price and they taste just great.

I think almonds are pretty hardy, someone in another thread was saying that the pasturized almonds he is buying still sprout (!). How much pesticide or whatever gets through those hard, thick shells anyhow? I'm thinking non-organic is alright when it comes to these.

[prana]

If you are interested in purchasing really raw almonds, Anderson Almonds out of California has just confirmed with me that he will not be doing any sort of pasteurization (chemical or steam) to his almonds.

If you buy almonds direct from the grower, even if it is their own online store, you can purchase without the pasteurization. Anderson Almonds accepts phone call orders, not web.

His almonds (we have been buying for years) are only $8.00 per pound if you buy 25 pounds and the shipping is included. If you want to buy only 5 pounds, the almonds are $10 per pound.

These are awesome plump nonpareil almonds with smooth thin skins and a sweet almond flavor. They will be available for order in October.

Here is another source for raw almonds: http://www.organicpastures.com/products_almonds.html

[margoss]

Prana....thanks. I belong to a raw food meet up group here. That would be great to share. I do not have storage for 25lbs.

[prana]

Prana....thanks. I belong to a raw food meet up group here. That would be great to share. I do not have storage for 25lbs.

You could ask your group to go in together and split up the box.

These are really awesome almonds. I didn't know what a good almond was until having these. We go through one 25 pound box a year.

[Invisible]

HI PRANA!

Thank you so much for that info. Heck, the rate I use almonds lately ( I make my own almond mylk in my new Soyabella machine) That 25 pounds would be really appreciated. Almonds are SOOOOO delicious, I love 'em!

Pumpkin and Sun seeds are yummie, too!! Here, however, the pumkin seeds are like, 13.00 a pound and the sun seeds equalivent. Why on earth the almonds are so cheap comparatively, I do not know!!!

BYe for now!

Invis

[Davylp25]

I know its tough. That's why a lot of the recipes with 1 cup macadamia or cashews etc I very rarely ever make. Too expensive! But replacing with seeds might do the trick!

[walnutty]

I use organic, raw sunflower seeds almost exclusively!