Oh Nuts Blog

November 19, 2009

The Four Best Hanukkah Food Traditions

Hanukkah is one of the most anticipated holidays of the Jewish year. People look forward to the exchanging of Hanukkah gifts, spinning the dreidel, lighting the menorah, and eating some delicious Hanukkah food. Some people host Chanukah parties, while some prefer to stay at home. No matter which group you fall into, you can’t make it through the holiday without these essential Hanukkah food dishes:

Sufganiyot:
doughnuts

Also known as jelly doughnuts. These delicious lightweight doughnuts are often topped with powdered sugar or different flavor icings. If you are not a jelly person, there are also sufganiyot available that are filled with chocolate or nothing at all. It is a great treat for the kids!

Potato Latkes:

There is never a need for an excuse to enjoy some crunchy potato latkes, but Hanukkah serves as a great one! These are often served with yummy homemade applesauce to balance the salty and sweet flavors.

Chanukah Gelt:
ChanukaGelt

Who doesn’t love money? Gelt, which means money in Yiddish, are chocolate coins that often are bet in a game of dreidel. If you don’t know the rules to this game of chance, just look out for the Hebrew letter gimmel, and the whole pot becomes yours.

Applesauce:

This side dish complements your latkes and can double as a delicious and nutritious dessert. Applesauce can be enjoyed straight from the store bought bottle to the homemade version cooling in the pot.

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday where it is encouraged to eat deep-fried and oily foods. Hanukkah only comes once a year (yes, it does last eight days), and it is okay to enjoy your favorite holiday foods while watching portion sizes and avoid going for thirds. Many people prefer the real stuff, but for those that don’t, there are many other healthy variations of your favorite Hannukah foods, such as the vegetable patty instead of the carb filled potato pancake.

We would love to hear from you. What is your favorite Hanukkah Food?.

November 12, 2009

Hanukkah gift Ideas

What is a Good Hanukkah Gift?

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday also known as the Festival of Lights that lasts for eight days and is usually celebrated by giving gifts. So what is a good Hanukkah gift? Traditionally a menorah or Hanukkah gelt would be a wonderful first Hanukkah gift. A menorah is a nine armed candlestick and one candle is lit each night until finally all eight candles are lit by the eighth night. The extra or ninth candle are a Shamash, which is "guard" in Hebrew. This candle is lit to light the other candles with.

Hanukkah gelt is the gift of some type of money for Hanukkah . This can be real money i.e., a savings bond, cash, check, or even pretend money like chocolate coins. What child do you know that doesn't like chocolate? Or better yet doesn't like money? Hanukkah gelt has been a traditional Hanukkah gift and is important to children in teaching the tradition of Hanukkah, which is to increase charity and good deeds, by giving.

It may seem a little like bribery to give Hanukkah gelt, but only because it is! Giving Hanukkah gelt as a Hanukkah gift is an important component of the process of educating. Until a child has reached a sufficient age and fully appreciates the Torah, then incentives such as Hanukkah gelt are typically used to gain attention. Once the true meaning is understood other items are typically given as gifts. This is a smart approach to obtain the attention from a child.

The giving of Hanukkah gifts is equally important and is typically a very well thought out an organized event. Hanukkah gifts are given each night over the eight days, and in some families, Hanukkah gelt is given each night too. However usually as Hanukkah gifts are given out on the fourth or fifth night, the monetary Hanukkah gifts are increased to larger amounts.
Other traditional Hanukkah gifts such as the dreidl are well known throughout the world. A dreidl is a four sided spinning top and has a letter from the Hebrew alphabet on each side. It is used for a gambling game called Teetotum, and each letter has a different meaning. Traditionally a dreidl is given with a roll of pennies for gambling with. The letters on the dreidl form an acronym, "Nes Gadol Haya Sham" which means "A great miracle happened here. The statement refers to the miracle that occurred in Israel. Another popular gift is a gift of generosity, where children are often taught to "give" themselves by taking gifts to homeless shelter or giving gifts to their family members.

As with any other holiday there are traditional and non traditional gifts, and Hanukkah gifts are no exception. Whether you give Chanukah gelt as a Hanukkah gift, or you give a sweater, there is no wrong Hanukkah gift to give, since it comes from the heart. When your gift is well thought out and given with genuine love, then the gift is always perfect.

November 1, 2009

Hanukkah 2009

Hanukkah 2009 starts on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasts for eight days. This year, Hanukkah 2009 will coincide with the following secular dates:
Hanukkah 2009 will start on the eve. of December 11 and will continue until 19 December 2009.

Here at Oh Nuts we are in full swing preparing for the Hanukkah 2009 season.
We have a full selection of Chanukah Gifts and Hanukkah Gift Baskets.
We also have the largest selection of Hanukah Gelt and Hanukkah gifts for kids.

Hanukkah Gift Baskets

Hanukkah Gifts For Kids

Chanukah Gelt - Chocolate Coins

Hanukkah Candy

Hanukkah Dreidels

Hanukkah Menorahs & Candles

October 16, 2009

Biggest Halloween Candy Myths

Hare you will fined some of the Biggest Halloween Candy Myths

Razor blades in apples

Razor blades in apples

This is probably the most famous "dangerous Halloween candy" story of them all. Most parents warn their kids not to touch fresh fruit they get trick-o-treating. Halloween razor blade stories began to replace poisoned candy stories in the mid-1960s.

Jack Santino, author of "Halloween and Other Festivals of Death and Life," wrote that in 1968 the New Jersey legislature passed a law mandating prison terms for people who boobytrapped apples. That year people found 13 apples with razor blades in them.

But Santino said the cases where more details are available indicate that about 75 percent were hoaxes, where the parents or the kids put the razors in themselves.

And another study tracked 80 cases of sharp objects in food since 1959 and almost all were hoaxes. Only 10 caused even a minor injury and the worst was a few stitches.

Needles in snickers

(Judy Sloan Reich, s-s / April 13, 2004)
Needles in candy

In 2000 James Joseph Smith of Minneapolis allegedly put needles in Snickers bars and gave them out to kids on Halloween. A 14-year-old boy was pricked when he bit into the candy, but no one needed medical care.

Smith was charged with one count of adulterating a substance with intent to cause death, harm or illness.

Drugs in candy

Halloween%20Candy-Drugs.jpg

candy: cocaine poisoning

(TFW / October 19, 2004)

A three-year-old in New Britain, Conn., was diagnosed with cocaine poisoning after Halloween1994.

The finger was pointed at his Halloween candy, but no drugs were found on the leftover piece of candy.

Drugs in candy

candy: herion

(TFW/Iris Schneider / October 30, 2006)

On Nov. 2, 1970, Kevin Toston, 5, lapsed into a coma and died of a herion overdose. Analysis of some of his Halloween candy showed it had been sprinkled with heroin.

Detroit police concluded the boy had gotten into his uncle’s herion stash, and his family sprinkled the heroin on Kevin's candy afterward to protect the uncle.

Fruit Snacks

(TWP / October 25, 2007)
Poison on candy

In October 1988 the New York Times reported that traces strychnine were found in a box of Sunkist Fun Fruits Dinosaurs purchased in a New Jersey grocery store.

The Food and Drug Administration tested the substance and found out it was cornstarch. But the manufacturer had already destroyed 9,400 cases of the snacks because it said its image was hurt.

Snickers with drugs

(handout / October 17, 2004)
Handing out drugs

In 2000 some kids in Hercules, Calif., came home from trick-o-treating with packets of marijuana done up to look like mini Snickers bars. The police traced the fake candy to a single house.

They found the homeowner didn't know the Snickers were actually mini marijuana packs. He was a postal worker who took the candy home when it ended up in the dead letter office.

Source: snopes.com

October 1, 2009

Nuts About Nutrition: The Real Deal on Almonds

Almonds

"I can't eat almonds because they will make me fat." Chances are either you have uttered this statement or have heard someone else say this. However, this statement may not be accurate as you will see below. A more accurate statement would be "Eating an excess of any energy producing nutrient (carbohydrates, proteins, or fats) will make you fat".

Our bodies can be compared to cars and the food we eat to fuel. Just as a car needs fuel to keep it running, so to, our bodies need food (energy) to function. The key here though, is to know which types of food and in what amounts are best for our bodies. Not only do we want to prevent diseases, but we want to feel and look our very best. Yes, it is true, we are what we eat. There is no greater feeling one can have than when one is in control of what he/she puts in his/her mouth.

Here are a few raw facts on almonds:
· Rich in antioxidants (vitamin E)
· Excellent source of protein and fiber
· Contains magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron
· Low in carbohydrates
· 1/4 c. =205 calories

The fiber found in almonds helps prevent constipation. This fiber also helps those who have big appetites and are trying to either maintain or lose weight. Almonds are great for diabetics, those diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), or those on a gluten-free diet.

Cardiovascular Health

Eating almonds is a great way to prevent cardiovascular diseases. The antioxidant action of Vitamin E plays a major role in reducing heart disease risk. Almonds provide 25% daily value of magnesium. A deficiency of this mineral is associated with a risk of a heart attack. Almonds are also very low in sodium, making them an excellent choice for those with hypertension.

In 1992, researchers working on the Adventist Health Study at Loma Linda University in California reported that those eating nuts daily had up to 60% fewer heart attacks than those who ate nuts less than once per month.

Worried about your weight?

Eating almonds actually lowers your risk of weight gain. So, what's the scoop on almonds? How can I eat them and enjoy their excellent health benefits without getting fat?

Here are a couple of interesting studies:

A study in the journal Obesity found that those who ate nuts at least twice a week were much less likely to gain weight than those who almost never ate nuts.

The Nurses' Health Study found that nut consumers were actually a little thinner on average than those who almost never consumed nuts.

A study published in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders revealed that an almond enriched low calorie diet can help one shed more pounds effectively than a low calorie diet which is high in complex carbohydrates.

Nuts do not seem to cause a weight gain since they appear to satisfy hunger thereby appropriately reducing the consumption of other foods. For example, substituting one ounce of almonds a day for a carbohydrate rich food would be a good choice. So don't make yourself nuts and enjoy your almonds!

Posted on October 1, 2009 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

September 30, 2009

The Jelly Bellies Are In!

Yup, we finally got them in. We are now in the process of adding the entire 49 Jelly Belly Flavor Line to our Jelly Bean section. Come browse our entire Jelly Belly Jelly Bean selection today, you'll be tempted to buy all of them! We all know, there's no bean like Jelly Belly.

Assorted 49 Flavor Jelly Belly Jelly Beans

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Posted on September 30, 2009 3:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

September 23, 2009

We're Going Pink for October

Shop our Pink Chocolate & Candy Selection and go pink! Oh! Nuts will donate 10% of our proceeds of our pink Candy & Chocolate section during the month of October, to the national cancer society; The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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Posted on September 23, 2009 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

September 13, 2009

Rosh Hashanah Gift Baskets to Israel

New for Rosh Hashanah 2009. We have added a full line of Rosh Hashanah Gift Baskets to Israel. Take a look and enjoy.

Israel Chocolate & Nut Line-Up Gift Basket

Israel Dried Fruit Antique Wooden Chest

Israel Rosh Hashanah Gift Basket

Israel Amber Glass Gift Tray

Israel Ceramic Rosh Hashanah Gift Baskets

Dried Fruit & Apple Footed Gift Tray Dried Fruit & Apple Footed Gift Tray

Israel Shana Tova Basket

September 1, 2009

Cute Shana Tova Video Clips

Enjoy these amusing Rosh Hashanah Shana Tova songs and clips!

Posted on September 1, 2009 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

August 31, 2009

Rosh Hashanah 2009

Rosh Hashana 2009

Rosh Hashanah 2009 (Jewish New Year) will begin at sundown on Friday September 18 and ends at nightfall on Sunday September 20.

As per the Jewish traditional custom of dipping apple in honey, it became a customary to send Honey Bottles and Honey Gift Baskets as a gift to family and friends. We at Oh! Nuts, always strive our best in bringing you an expanded selection of Honey Jar Gifts for this year's Rosh Hashanah.

We at Oh! Nuts are proud to feature the largest selection of Rosh Hashanah Gifts on the Web.

You can browse our vast variety of Rosh Hashanah Honey Gifts and Rosh Hashanah Gift Baskets today!

Take a look at our Rosh Hashanah 2009 Gift lineup