I narrowed down the Top 10 Cool Things I Learned about Almonds while visiting California and the next yummy recipes I’m making with them (homemade protein powder for one!)
[Disclosure: My trip was funded by the Almond Board of California but I was not paid to write this post. My comments below are all mine – including my mispronunciation of the town we were visiting- doh!]
Last month, I traveled out to Lodi, CA (pronounced Loh-dye vs. Loh-dee like the way I was saying it incorrectly up until Day 2 of the trip.) Lodi is about 30 miles south of Sacramento in California’s Central Valley and the heart of ag country.
Because it would probably take at least 3 long winded posts to recap everything I saw and learned and ate (and nobody ain’t got no time to read all that), here’s my CliffsNotes version (do kids these days even know what CliffsNotes are?)
Top 10 Cool Things I Learned About California Almonds:
1) Almonds growers use 33% LESS water than they did 20 years ago. This was a BIG topic of discussion especially because of the severe drought. I was also surprised to hear that almonds use the same amount of water as other California fruit and nut trees. And the California Almond community has funded over 90 irrigation research projects over the decades. Clearly, water conservation is top of mind for them.
2) Almonds are related to peaches. (And this is probably why they go so well together in recipes.)
3) Almond have three parts to them and every part is used.
–>The outer shell is crushed and used as bedding for dairy cows, particle board or biofuel.
–>The hulls are used as feed for dairy cows.
–>The actual almond (inside the hull) is what we eat.
(Hand model: Kylie @immaeatthat)
4) Without bees, there would be no almonds and this is true for dozens and dozens of crops. Almond growers rent bee hives during the bloom season (mid February thru March) so the bees can pollinate the almond blossoms.
5) Almonds are harvested with a machine that shakes the trunk. Video clip of the almond shaker in action!
6) Almond growers and processors call them “a-mends.” It’s not really clear why they do but one farmer joked that when almonds are shaken from the tree, the “L” is shaken out of them.
7) Over 80% of world’s almonds are produced in California.
8) One ounce serving size of almonds = 23 almonds
9) Almonds are the tree nut highest in protein, fiber, calcium, Vitamin E, riboflavin and niacin.
10) This Gluten-Free Skillet Almond Granola is da bomb. Seriously, delish. I first tasted it on this trip and got to enjoy it again at Blog Brûlée last weekend, too.
Top 10 Things I Didn't Know About @Almonds (+ recipes like homemade protein powder!) @tspbasil #sponsoredtravel Click To TweetSpeaking of eats, we had an almond snack team challenge during the trip. April, Abby, McKenzie, Rachael and I came up with a sweet and savory smoky almond crunch bar with chiles and dried pineapple.
While we weren’t the winners, (we had a little issue with getting it to stick together in our limited “kitchen” time), they were actually super tasty.
And speaking about eats, I was inspired to gather a bunch of creative almond recipes rounded up from my fellow #AlmondTour attendees.
Pantry Staples:
(The most popular post on our blog!) How To Make Homemade Protein Powder – Teaspoon of Spice
Homemade Almond Milk (+ Triple Berry Smoothie) – McKenzie @NourishRDs
Breakfast:
Almond Flour Crepes – Kylie @immaeatthat
Apple Almond Butter Overnight Oats – Megan @Healthy Grocery Girl
Easy Ginger Spiced Granola With Ancient Grains – Lisa @Healthy Nibbles & Bits
Entrees:
Sweet Smoky Almond Crusted Chicken with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce – Abby @Abby Langer Nutrition
Maple Almond Crusted Salmon – Abbey @Abbey’s Kitchen
Snacks & Sweets:
Chocolate Almond Butter Fruit Dip – Amanda @The Wholesome Dish
Chipotle Honey Lime Almonds – Meme @Living Well Kitchen
No Bake Almond Granola Bars – Alex @Delish Knowledge
Almond Trail Mix Cookies – Rachael @Avocado A Day
Gluten Free Almond Zucchini Bread – Kim @KH Nutrition
**A huge thank you to the Almond Board of California, Porter Novelli, the staff of Wine and Roses, Travaille and Phippen and LangeTwins Winery for the tours and amazing hospitality.***
So, how do you like to eat almonds? Have you ever see a nut tree? Have you ever been to California’s Central Valley?
Emily @ Sinful Nutrition
Monday 21st of September 2015
I'm in love with that skillet granola recipe! SO good. Looks like a fabulous trip. I learned so much just from your post! :)
Deanna Segrave-Daly
Wednesday 23rd of September 2015
I know - I got to make me a batch this week :)
Anne|Craving Something Healthy
Friday 18th of September 2015
That almond tree shaking machine is crazy! I'd hate to be the one to have to pick them all up though... :/
Deanna Segrave-Daly
Sunday 20th of September 2015
Of course they have a machine to pick them all up too but the growers said before the shaker machines (about 50 years ago), it would take hundreds of men to go up into the trees to hit the branches and get the almonds out of the trees that way!
Meme
Friday 18th of September 2015
Ah! I mispronounced Lodi wrong too until one of my friends told me of the Creedence Clearwater Song - Lodi (and to be honest, I never knew what word they were saying when they say "Lodi" so it makes me laugh that I had no idea what the song is about). Ok that was long winded but you were not alone in pronouncing the name wrong ;) Thanks for including my recipe! Such a fun trip!!!
Deanna Segrave-Daly
Sunday 20th of September 2015
I never knew about that song! And happy to include your recipe - can't wait to make it :)
EA-The Spicy RD
Friday 18th of September 2015
Great information and sounds like a fabulous trip! My favorite ways to eat almonds are by the handful, especially if they are the cinnamon orange almonds I get at the farmers market-yum! Also, I use them a lot on salads, and on top of yogurt. Looking forward to checking out your Homemade Protein Powder!
Deanna Segrave-Daly
Friday 18th of September 2015
I need to get my hands on some of those cinnamon orange almonds - they sound divine! Almonds really go great with so many things :) Serena's protein powder is the biggest hit on our blog and I still have yet to make it - that will change shortly :)
Julie @ RDelicious Kitchen
Friday 18th of September 2015
awesome round up of a-mend recipes! lol Looks like an amazing trip! I love your almond protein powder recipe! Definitely pinning - need to make this!
Deanna Segrave-Daly
Friday 18th of September 2015
See, now you are going to think "a-mend" every time you see "almond" - at least I do now -ha!