Maple Pistachio Crèmes

What’s a food photographer’s favorite subject? Pistachios, because they’re always smiling!

Bad jokes aside, Persians have called pistachios “the smiling nuts” for centuries because the split shell resembles a smile. The Chinese simply refer to it as “the happy nut,” which is also appropriate, because their delicate flavor and crisp crunch always brings me joy.

Pistachio fan that I am, I find it frustrating that this beautiful nut is rarely utilized by most home cooks.