Entertaining

Wonderful Pistachios + Bob Guiney are Entertaining for the Big Game! (Sponsored)

The Big Game is right around the corner and we all know that food is the most important part! Many of us are looking for simple, easy-to-make recipes we can make for our guests to create a fun, at-home watch party.

Planning is key when it comes to preparing for hosting a watch party for the Big Game. I like to have a variety of dishes out for everyone to enjoy and a mix of easy snacks to keep my guests full all day long. I have partnered with Wonderful Pistachios because they are one of the highest protein snack nuts and are extremely versatile. With 6g of plant protein per serving and better-for-you fats, they’re a great option to snack on anytime of day or to add to a dish as a crunchy, flavorful ingredient.

Today, I have a few game day recipes using Wonderful Pistachios. The first appetizer is a snack board - don’t we all love them - pistachios are always a great addition to any charcuterie or cheese board. You can sprinkle In-Shell pistachios around the board as a great visual and texture or have some easy to eat No Shells flavors to take your snack boards to another level.

No time for a full charcuterie spread? This Wonderful Pistachios Burrata is a great way to satisfy those similar flavors, but in half the time. Simply put your burrata on a serving dish, top it with mandarin zest and sprinkle crushed Wonderful Pistachios on top. I serve this with some toasted baguette slices and endive, but you can sub in whatever veggies you want or have at home. Sometimes I even top the burrata with the Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Honey Roasted for a sweet note with the creamy and salty burrata. Simple and quick so you don’t miss one moment of the Big Game (or the halftime show!).

One more popular snacking dish for the game are sliders. They’re always a fan favorite and so easy to make. I make them on whole-wheat slider rolls and top them with a bright and creamy chili sauce using Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Chili Roasted, cucumbers, cilantro, jalapeño, and carrots.

I also love serving healthy food to my kids and have a fantastic chicken tender recipe that they will never guess is a healthier take on what they are used to! These Wonderful Pistachios Coconut-Crusted Chicken Tenders are coated with pistachios instead of breadcrumbs, giving them an extra boost of plant protein and flavor. Sometimes I even coat these tenders in the Wonderful Pistachios No Shells BBQ flavor, which gives them a nice hickory-smoked flavor with just a hint of sweetness.

But really, my kids are a big fan of Wonderful Pistachios No Shells– they eat them straight out of the bag – especially the Honey Roasted. They think they are getting a treat because of the sweetness from the honey, but I know they are getting a nutritious snack that I don’t have to worry about. With other flavors including Chili Roasted, Sea Salt & Vinegar and BBQ, Wonderful Pistachios No Shells are a great substitute for unhealthy chips, without sacrificing any of the delicious flavor.

There are two key trends we are going to be seeing with gatherings and entertaining. The first, is a trend towards more grab and go, and by that, I mean more emphasis on already pre-portioned dishes, or items that you just have on a toothpick to quickly grab rather than shared serving utensils. One great hack is that I like to put out a bowl of the Wonderful Pistachios snack packs for my guests to grab and enjoy throughout the day. You don’t have to worry about the kids digging their hands in the bowl, or to have to keep going back for more, just grab and enjoy - perfect for grabbing some quick plant protein while throwing around the football or watching your favorite team win the Big Game!

The second trend is one towards more mindful choices. Even for the Big Game, Americans are opting for healthier or better-for-you choices. Wonderful Pistachios fit right into that as both a healthy snack and ingredient to spruce up mealtime.

Lastly, we all know how stressful these games can sometimes get, especially if your team is in the running. So something I found interesting is that cracking open the shell of pistachios can help calm your nerves, as well as help with portion control while you’re eating, slowing you down to be more mindful. It’s called the pistachio principle. So if your team is making a big play or at 4th and goal, grab a big bowl of these and Get Crackin’!

Check out WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more.