How familiar are you with macadamias? Did you know that although Macadamia nuts are mostly grown in Hawaii, they actually originate from Australia?  At first, they were only grown to be used as décor, but later it was discovered that it was much more that!  Their husks have been used as fertilizers, the oil from…

Did you know that it takes 7 years after a macadamia tree is planted for it to produce fruit (the nut)? But, once they begin producing fruit, they remain productive for 100 years!!   You may know little about macadamia nuts, but they are actually one of the most sought-after nuts in the world. Along…

If you have been following my recipe posts for a while, you probably figured out by now that I love balancing different flavors and textures to blend together into one harmonious dish. This spinach salad is true to that theme. The sweetness of the dates and the strawberries blend beautifully with the slight bitterness of the spinach and the saltiness of the nuts. Because the dressing is warm when poured over the spinach, it slightly wilts the leaves, taking away their slightly raw and bitter taste. All the while keeping it fresh and crunchy with all of the nutrients intact.

Nuts come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are an important part of a healthy eating plan.  Though every nut has something special to offer, I am highlighting the macadamia nut in this post in celebration of National Macadamia Nut Day on September 4th.  While you often find macadamia nuts covered in chocolate…