BasketBox Blog

When it comes to bulk nuts, BasketBox has one of the best selections of nuts online. They have a variety of sizes available to be ordered, as well as including a new 5 lb bag size of nuts in bulk. Some of the kinds of nuts that they offer include bulk almonds, bulk peanuts, bulk mixed nuts and macadamia nuts.

Bulk Almonds

Almonds are one of the most popular kinds of bulk nuts available for sale. They contain a range of essential nutrients including dietary fiber, protein, vitamin E, B vitamins, monounsaturated fat, essential minerals and phytosterols. These nuts can help to lower LDL cholesterol which is the “bad” cholesterol. Some of the other health benefits of consuming these healthy and delicious nuts in bulk include a decreased risk of heart disease, a clearer complexion and even a lower risk of cancer.

Bulk Peanuts

Peanuts are one of the most readily available nuts in bulk. Purchasing these nuts online in bulk not only assures that you are getting a great price, it also means that the nuts will be fresh and high quality. Bulk peanuts have a variety of health benefits including a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, lower risk of cancer – especially colon cancer, prevents gall stones, lower risk of weight gain, lowers occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive design. Peanuts are packed with essential nutrients including monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, niacin, folate, manganese, protein, resveratrol and antioxidants that are crucial for good health.

Macadamia Nuts

Although macadamia nuts are high in fat, approximately 80% of this fat is monounsaturated. It helps to lower your overall cholesterol by decreasing the “bad” levels of cholesterol and raising the “good” (HDL) levels of cholesterol. Additionally, these bulk nuts contain iron, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin E, omega-3, palmitoleic acid, thiamine, vitamin A and are a great source of fiber. Some of the health benefits of these nuts in bulk include increasing metabolism, helping to burn fat more quickly, reducing appetite, skin health, nervous system health, reduces risk of heart disease and reduces risk of cancer. The omega-3 in these nuts can help with migraines, menstrual cramps, arthritis and depression.

Bulk Mixed Nuts

When purchasing nuts online, it is always good to see what nuts are contained in bulk mixed nut mixtures. BasketBox’s mixture includes pecans, brazil nuts, almonds, cashews and filberts. Not only are these bulk nuts delicious, they are also packed with nutrition that can help to fight a number of health problems and promote optimal well-being. Pecans have monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, ellagic acid, calcium, potassium and more. Brazil nuts are packed with selenium, unsaturated fats, protein and iron. Cashews have a lower fat content than many nuts and also contain copper, phosphorus, tryptophan and other essential nutrients.

Many people think that including nuts in their regular diet will cause them to gain weight. Recent studies have shown these fears to be unfounded. Another misconception with nuts is that they are expensive to purchase on a regular basis. Purchasing these nuts online in bulk nuts varieties will help to keep costs low while also being more convenient, as the products chosen are delivered right to the door.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics sponsors National Nutrition Month each year to draw attention to the importance of making healthy food choices. With so many people struggling to reach and maintain a healthy weight, it is vital to promote awareness of what foods make up a healthy diet which is scientifically based on nutrition information. 

When it comes to bulk nuts, research has shown that nuts are not linked with obesity. In fact, buying nuts online to keep on hand can be an easy way to make sure that family members get a well-balanced diet. Bulk dried fruit is also an essential part of the diet that contains many essential vitamins and nutrients.

Bulk nuts and bulk dried fruit make excellent snacks that can easily be transported in lunches, backpacks and briefcases. Purchasing dried fruit and nuts online to keep the pantry stocked is a much better healthy food choice than other go-to snack foods such as potato chips and chocolate bars. During National Nutrition month, encourage your household to make better choices when it comes to their diet by having healthy and convenient options within reach.

Brazil nuts are large nuts that grow on trees throughout the Amazon. They are often included in nut mixes because of the many nutritional and health benefits. They are dense in both calories and fat but contain some of the most beneficial nutrients that your body needs to function and repair itself. Eating these bulk nuts can allow you to have a nutritious and delicious snack food.

Selenium

Selenium is a nutrient that the body cannot produce on its own and must be obtained through water and food. It boosts the activity of antioxidants and increases the function of Vitamin E within the body. Brazil nuts are extremely high in selenium content with 100% of the daily recommended intake being contained in just one nut. A one ounce serving, approximately 6 nuts, contains as much as 536.8 mg or 766% or the daily recommended intake of selenium. These high levels of selenium in the nuts are associated with:

• Proper thyroid gland function
• A boost to the immune system
• Encourages the production of glutathione which protects against free radical damage
• Prevents blood clotting
• Helps protect from heart disease
• Aids in protection against cancers including breast and prostate cancer

Monounsaturated Fats and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Brazil nuts are full of fats – low levels of saturated fats and very high levels of monounsaturated fats. This makes it important to only consume one serving each day to keep caloric intake under control and maintain a suitable body weight. These bulk nuts contain high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids which help to protect against heart disease. Brazil nuts are also packed with both palmitoleic acid and oleic acid which help to increase the good cholesterol and reduce bad cholesterol levels. These nutrients help to prevent coronary heart diseases, heart attacks and strokes.

Other Benefits of Brazil Nuts

These nuts contain a number of other nutrients that offer a range of health benefits including:

• The amino acid methionine which helps prevent the symptoms and signs of premature aging as well as helping to prevent chronic illnesses
• These bulk nuts are good sources of complete proteins that contain all of the essential amino acids for growth, development and muscle tissue repair
• A serving of these nuts contains 27% of the recommended daily intake for magnesium which helps to absorb energy from food, produce protein and helps the muscles function
• A serving of these nuts also contains 25% of the required intake for copper which helps promote thyroid function, maintains bone and connective tissue health, helps the body use iron, supports the production of melanin, as well as protects and repairs tissues
• Twenty percent of the recommended daily intake of phosphorus is also provided by these nuts which helps with teeth and bone health
• Also provided with these bulk nuts are vitamin E, potassium, riboflavin, manganese, zinc, calcium, thiamin, B-complex group vitamins and iron

Purchasing these nuts in bulk can ensure that there is always a convenient supply of them in the house. Although they must be eaten in moderation, these nuts include many of the important nutrients that are required for optimal levels of health. Purchasing these nuts online allows people to experience the convenience of online shopping while providing healthy nuts as snacks that the whole family will love.

BasketBox has added several new options to their new and improved web site www.BasketBox.com. The updated website is user friendly and very pleasing to the eye with a home page that displays the most popular sweet dried fruit and roasted and chocolate nuts. “We have designed our website to be fun, easy to use and a one stop online marketplace to send a tasteful unique gift,” states Emmanuel Sullivan, Founder BasketBox.

Lower down on the homepage are direct links to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Tumblr where you are welcome to friend, like, follow or message with interest. As well as a blog page with several posts on a variety of topics including the origin of different nuts and dried fruit, numerous delicious recipes, several decorating tips for dried fruit and mixed nuts and gift ideas; all comments and suggestions are welcome here too. There is also a quick subscription box to sign up for the BasketBox newsletter which includes a free sample of mixed nuts for a limited time only. The newsletter provides news, gift promotions and the latest deals.

Auto delivery is a monthly subscription that is new to BasketBox with your choice of one (1) pound of lightly salted roasted pistachios; unsalted roasted macadamias, cashews or almonds delivered in a resealable pouch for easy storage and freshness. With this bulk item you are able to snack on your selected nut, share, add to yogurt or ice cream and cook in dinner meals.

The assortment of diversified gifts include all shapes, sizes that would be a big hit for any occasion, holiday or celebration including minis, totes, angles, themes, trays or nested boxes. However, the choices do not end there. BasketBox now offers distinctive selection of accessories such as bowls and scoops that can be included in your order, making your gift more exclusive with every choice.

If you have a hard time choosing your favorite items, then simply add them to your wish list or send a gift certificate and allow your recipient to pick what they want! “Whether you are surfing our site to look around, make a purchase or redeem your gift certificate, www.BasketBox.com is easy to use and has several ideas that will make you happy you made the visit,” remarks Emmanuel Sullivan.

To promote the new BasketBox.com website with additions of bulk shipping, subscription service and accessories, all orders will come with a complimentary gift.

Walnuts are the oldest tree food known to man, dating back to 7000 B.C. The English Walnut and the Black Walnut are the two most common varieties of walnuts grown for their seeds. The English Walnut (Juglans regia or Jupiter’s royal acorn) originated in Persia, where it was reserved for royalty and the Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is native to eastern North America. The North American walnuts were first cultivated in California by the Franciscan Fathers in the late 1700s. By the 1870s modern walnut production had begun with orchard plantings in southern Santa Barbara County, California.

The United States is the world's largest exporter of walnut seeds. Walnut seeds are a high density source of nutrients, particularly proteins and essential fatty acids. They are enclosed in a green, leathery, fleshy inedible husk. Once removed, the husk reveals the wrinkly walnut shell, which is in two halves. This shell is hard and encloses the kernel, which is also made up of two halves separated by a partition. The seed kernels are available as shelled or roasted. "Walnuts rank above peanuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios and other nuts," said Joe Vinson, Ph.D., who did the analysis. "A handful of walnuts contains almost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent amount of any other commonly consumed nut. Enjoy the flavorful and crunchy health benefits of walnuts!

The New Year brings great hope and wonderful expectations. If your resolution is to improve your diet, make healthier meal choices or weight loss, make sure to incorporate dry fruits and mixed nuts as a vital part of your meal plan, which would give better results and compliance
than those that don’t.

First write down your goal, and share with someone you trust for accountability, take small steps, add flavor and keep it fun! Dried fruits like apples, apricots, cherries and sun-dried tomatoes offer healthier alternatives to refined sugar, and they are an excellent way to satisfy a sweet craving. While also providing higher levels of antioxidants, betacarotene, folic acid, fiber, iron, vitamins A and C. Healthy nuts such as almonds, pecans and walnuts are also great sources of protein, minerals and other life-enhancing nutrients. They will keep you full longer throughout the day with the satiety or “filling” value containing protein, fiber, healthy fats and will add a boost to daily nutrient intake.

Dried fruits and mixed nuts are so healthful, delicious and versatile. You can use them in sweet and savory breakfast and snacks such as dips, cereal, yogurt, oatmeal and trail mixes. They add to a variety of entree dishes like salads, veggies, rice, stuffing, breads, pastas and all types of desserts. There are so many choices. For great ideas on indulging your appetite while maintaining your waistline and wallet check out our Pinterest boards: http://pinterest.com/basketbox/

The pecan tree is a large deciduous tree native to south-central North America and Mexico. It is a species of hickory genus, the pecan is a not truly a nut be a drupe or fruit with a single pit surrounded by a husk. The tree usually ranges in height from 70 to 100 feet, but some trees grow as tall as 150 feet or higher. They also may live and bear edible seeds with over 1,000 varieties for more than 300 years.

Pecans come in a variety of sizes – mammoth, extra large, large, medium, small and midget. They also come in several forms including whole pecans, pecan halves, pieces, granules and meal. Pecans provide nearly 10 percent of the recommended Daily Value for zinc. The seeds of the pecan are edible, with a rich, buttery flavor. They can be eaten fresh or used in cooking, particularly in sweet common desserts like pecan pie or praline candy.

In addition to the pecan seed, the wood is also used in making furniture and wood flooring as well as flavoring fuel for smoked meats. Pecans were one of the most recently domesticated major crops. Although wild pecans were well-known among the colonial Americans as a delicacy, the commercial growing of pecans in the United States did not begin until the 1880s.

Today, the U.S. produces about 80 percent of the world’s pecan crop, with an annual crop of 150–200 thousand tons from more than 10 million trees. The nut harvest for growers is typically around mid-October. Historically, the leading pecan-producing state in the U.S. has been Georgia, followed by Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

 Ingredients

1/3 cup dried cranberries

2 1/3 cups water

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped

1/3 cup dried cherries, chopped

2 1/2 cups (about 1 pound) couscous

1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted slivered almonds

1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted and skinned hazelnuts

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, if desired

In a medium saucepan, combine the water, sugar, cranberries, apricots, and cherries. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes. Stir in the couscous and remove the pan from the heat. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid until the couscous has absorbed all of the cooking liquid, about 5 to 7 minutes.

A simple and quick snack and I mignt add inexpensive is chocolate covered peanuts. A fantastic treat for the holidays or any party occasion. The recipe is so easy and quick there are only two ingredients and four steps. It makes 1 1/2 cups. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 ounces of chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate

1 cup roasted and unsalted peanuts

Directions:

Melt the chocolate over low heat until smooth

Pour in peanuts and mix well

Spoon choclate covered peanuts out onto wax paper

Let peanuts cool for 45 mins unti chocolate hardens

The significance of the Mayan calendar is vast all around the globe, the calendar moves in cycles with the last cycle corresponding with the full moon on the Winter Solstice, and is also an eclipse. The solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year, as the cycle reverses and the sun begins its ascent in the sky, a change in season happens where the days are gradually longer. December 21, 2012 at 11:11 Universal Time (UTC) marks the completion of the Great Mayan Cycle with several prophecies surrounding this date and are interpreted as the day the world ends (doomsday) or the beginning of a New World Age.

If you're hosting a game day gathering at your house or attending a football party at a friend’s place, you'll more likely be indulging in some awesome snacks and tasty cold beverages.

Well, we have got some ideas for you that will taste great! First, stay hydrated with refreshing light beer, flavored ice teas or fresh fruit smoothies. For starters add a dried fruit and nut bar with a selected variety of peanuts, almonds, pecans, raisins, dried apples, bananas and cranberries. Accompanied with sliced carrots, celery and baby tomatoes with low-fat cheese, hummus or fresh salsa with baked chips or whole grain pita chips and lean meat skewers. Then a hearty turkey chili with grilled veggies such as red bell peppers, eggplant, mushrooms and zucchini. For dessert treat everyone to sherbet, fruit sorbet, mixed nuts or granola frozen yogurt or low fat ice cream.

Provide appetizer size plates to encourage portion control which will be easier for your guest to carry, reduce spills and will allow them to munch and keep their eyes on the game. Yummy healthier game day snack mean touchdowns for tons of protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber with fewer penalties and flags on the diet to regret tomorrow. No matter who wins the game you’ll come out as MVP.

An almond is a species of deciduous tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is considered to be one of the earliest domesticated tree nuts. The fruit of the almond is a drupe, consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell with the seed inside. Almonds are often eaten raw; however, blanched, toasted, roasted or hickory smoked are components of various dishes.

Prepared whole, sliced, flaked or slivered in sweet and savoury dishes for breakfast, dinner and dessert! Almonds can be processed into a milk substitute called almond milk, a soy-free choice for lactose intolerant people and vegans. Almond flour is often used as a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour in cooking and baking. There is even almond syrup, almond liquor and a rich source of almond oil, with values ranging between 36 to 60% of kernel dry mass, almonds contains 12 percent of your daily allowance of protein. And absolutely no cholesterol, of course.

You'll also get 35 percent of your daily allowance of vitamin E, that valuable antioxidant with so many cancer-fighting qualities. And most of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated, also known as the "good" fat. Also loaded with minerals like magnesium, phosphorus and zinc, as well as lots of healthy fiber. Plus, they taste great!

1. Prepare and chill Almond Pastry. If desired, prepare Sugared Orange Peel.

2. Preheat oven to 450F. On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten the dough. Working from the center, roll dough into an 11-inch circle. Wrap dough circle around rolling pin. Unroll into an ungreased 9-inch tart pan that has a removable bottom. Ease dough circle into tart pan, being careful not to stretch dough. Press dough into the fluted side of tart pan. Trim edge. Line dough with a double thickness of foil. Bake for 5 minutes; remove foil. Bake about 5 minutes more or until pastry edge is light brown. Transfer tart pan to a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 350F.

3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta cheese, egg, and sugar; beat with an electric mixer until combined. Stir in shredded orange peel. Spread into partially baked crust. To prevent overbrowning, cover pastry edge with foil.

4. Bake about 15 minutes or until filling edge is slightly puffed and center is set. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 1 hour.

5. Meanwhile, place dried fruit in a small bowl. Add the boiling water. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes. Drain well. In a saucepan, heat and stir red currant jam over low heat until melted. Stir in dried fruit mixture and almonds.

6. To serve, remove side of tart pan. Spread fruit mixture over cooled tart. If desired, garnish with sugared orange peel. Cut into wedges.

7. Almond Pastry: Preheat oven to 350F. Place 1/3 cup slivered almonds in a shallow baking pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted, stirring occasionally. Let cool. Place almonds in a food processor or blender. Cover and process or blend until finely ground. In a medium bowl, stir together the ground almonds, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/4 cup cold butter until the pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon milk over part of the flour mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat moistening flour mixture, adding 1 tablespoon additional milk at a time, until all the flour mixture is moistened (2 to 4 tablespoons milk total). Form dough into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap; chill about 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.

8. Sugared Orange Peel: Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from an orange in thin strips. In a saucepan, bring 1 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar to boiling. Add peel. Simmer for 15 minutes; drain. On waxed paper or foil, spread peel in a single layer; sprinkle peel with sanding sugar. Let dry before using.

9. To Bake Ahead: Prepare, bake, and cool as directed through step 4. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill for up to 3 days. To serve, prepare fruit layer and assemble as directed in step 5.

Ingredients: http://www.recipe.com/dried-fruit-tart-with-almond-crust/

Source: Recipe.com

Thanksgiving is here! Many people will be traveling by car, train, plane or ship to vacation with that special someone, with family and friends or to just get away for themselves. Whatever your plans for the holiday, start it by snacking on healthy nuts in assorted varies like peanuts, walnuts, pecans and cashews. Or try dried fruit like cinnamon dried apples, strawberries, apricots and banana chips. Be daring and combine both mixed nuts and dried fruit for a tasty treat.

The electoral votes have been counted; however, this month the most important online poll is still open and you are able to cast your vote on which nut or dried fruit we should offer next.

Currently, chocolate peanuts are leading with Brazilian nuts at a close second. There are several options on our ballot. Review them and choose carefully. Each nut or dried fruit choice is delicious, has nutritional facts and is a complement to any trail mix, side salad or dessert.

Plus, you will be able to gift your winning choice in the future to that special someone in an attractive gift box, tote or tray. Your choice is extremely important to us as we wish to provide the freshest and most desired mixed nuts and dried fruits to you and your recipients.

Remember, your voice matters! Just think you will have a great opportunity to select a menu item for BasketBox. In advance, we appreciate your time and attention.

You have several choices, so visit our poll today and make your selection. 

The peanut crop has been good this year according to the Georgia Peanut Commission. Half of the peanuts harvested in the U.S. are grown in Georgia and the amount of farmland planted with peanuts there jumped to  730,000 acres from 475,000 last year. The increase is due to excellent weather this year; which means just the amount of rain and temperature that peanuts thrive in.

Peanut farmers expect to harvest about 6.1 billion pounds this year compared to 3.6 billion last year, which was the worst for peanut supply. This resulted in increased prices for peanut based products like peanut butter.

Although there is a large supply of peanuts on the market, consumers should see prices decline, while farmers will not see a large return on their investment. The process is a gamble for most peanut farmers, but works out well, this year that is, for consumers. Experts say peanut prices at the grocery store should fall by early next year, and if not, it's because farmers harvested a qualtiy crop that in turn fuels demand.

Dried fruit is a delicious alternative to fresh, frozen and canned fruit. They are a tasty and nutritious food that's ideal for snacking and occupies less shelf space than canned fruit. Packaging dried fruit into glass jars, metal cans or plastic containers are suitable for storage. Pack the fruit into the containers as tightly as possible without damaging the fruit. Seal the packages tightly. Place in a dark, dry and cool location, placing the container in a brown bag is optional. Check the fruit often to ensure that it is free of moisture, which can contribute to mold and spoilage. Use your dried fruit within six months to one year. Use with breakfast, as a snack, dinner time garnish or dessert topping.

The tasty assortments of mixed nuts in a simple bowl often contains a mixture of various tree nuts like almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts and peanuts, which is a legume. All these nuts are harvested from different parts of the world and are a healthy food option loaded with nutrients such as monounsaturated fats, antioxidants and vitamins.

On the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food pyramid plan nuts fall into the meat and beans group. Nuts can help you meet your requirements for foods in this group and get a balanced supply of nutrients,  B vitamins, vitamin E and iron. Some nuts, such as walnuts, provide health-supporting essential fatty acids. Others, like hazelnuts and almonds are especially good sources of vitamin E. They can be consumed raw, roasted toasted, blanched or smoked. Including salted mixed nuts into your healthy diet may help ward off chronic disease such as obesity and heart disease.

The FDA recommends eating 1.5 oz. or about 43 g of nuts daily. So grab a handful and enjoy!

Dried fruits are preserved by removing the majority of the original water content through natural sun drying or in heated wind tunnel dryers; also by methods using specialized dryers or dehydrators. Because the natural bacteria and enzymes need water to break down a produce, the removal of this moisture is all that is necessary to preserve a fruit from spoilage. If dried fruits are stored properly, it is safe to consume them for months. Fruits that are chosen for drying are usually ripe; not overly ripe. Any blemishes or bruising present on the outside of the fruit are typically cut off beforehand. 

Snacking at work, play or school is a given these days. Selecting the right snack matters and healthy snacks are the ideal way to go. We know that the right size is important too; a treat that will get you through the day, but still enough for the next snack break. 

The mini BasketBox is the perfect snack pack that will give you just the right amount and then some. Take it to school, work or just about anywhere. The size can’t be beat either. It fits in a book bag, backpack or handbag. The best thing is that BasketBox has the healthy nuts and dried fruit that you’re looking for. We’ve got it all from peanuts and almonds to apricots and peaches.

Send one to a friend, loved one or someone in your family. They’d love the unique and healthy gift. We’ve just released two new mini box styles, the gold and chocolate swirls mini BasketBox.

Go ahead and try a mini BasketBox snack pack!