Football Season is Here! Change it Up a Bit With a Healthy Snack

Football Season is Here! Change it Up a Bit With a Healthy Snack

Football season is here! That means Saturdays, Sundays, and even Monday nights will be occupied with the big games highlighted by our favorite teams, friends hanging out on our couches and lots of snacks while we watch. Nothing is better than good old chips and dip while watching the game. Here's a healthy snack to fit perfectly with your game day display.

Whale Tails Tortilla Chips, first off, cover us in the health department. They are organic, gluten free, non gmo project verified and environmentally friendly among other benefits. In other words, if there was a chip to eat, these are the chips.

Whale Tails Tortilla Chips also fit into the nature of game day perfectly. Our chips are fun and fit fun occasions very well. They are shaped like whale tails and there's nothing more fun than that when it comes to chips.

However, most importantly, these chips are great snacks. There's great flavors like Original Alaea Gourmet Sea Salt, Hawaiian Barbeque and Blue Corn. They taste even better than the salty and greasy potato chips that act as alternatives.

Plus, you can eat them with all your favorite dips whether they be salsa, cheese or whatever else! Whale Tails Tortilla Chips are a healthy and tasty replacement for potato chips on game day.

Make this football season a little different with Whale Tails Tortilla Chips. Contact us today.

Four Easy, Healthy Snacks That'll Throw You Into A "Tailspin"

In today's society, when are you not busy? I mean, you have to do the laundry, take the kids to their swimming lessons, and be at your underwater basket weaving class by three... Oh wait, maybe that last one's just me. Nevertheless, when that bag of potato chips just isn't cutting it, you need these four easy and healthy snacks that will keep you from *ahem* dropping like a hot potato, so to speak:
1. Sunset Dip- adapted from yummly.com

• softened, low-fat cream cheese
• cheddar cheese
• salsa (any salsa you have around the house will do) 

Directions: Spread cream cheese evenly into the bottom of a dish. Sprinkle cheddar over the cream cheese. Add salsa and serve with our Original Flavor Yellow Organic Whale Tails.
2.  Microwave Nachos - adapted from wikihow.com

• tortilla chips
• shredded cheese
• beans (optional)
• salsa (optional)
• guacamole (optional)
• low-fat sour cream (optional)
• jalapenos (optional)

Directions: Lay down a bed of our Original Flavor Yellow Organic Whale Tails on a microwave-safe dish. Add shredded cheese and cook on medium power (50%) for 30 seconds or until the cheese melts. Add whatever toppings you have around the house.
3. Easy Vegetarian Taco Salad- adapted from tastykitchen.com 

• 2 tablespoons of salsa
• 3 tablespoons of ranch dressing
• 7 ounces of canned black beans
• 2 sliced and quartered radishes 
• 4 leaves of chopped romaine lettuce 
• 1 whole, chopped green onion
• 2 whole, chopped jalapenos
• 2 tablespoons of feta cheese
• 1 cup of crumbled Original Flavor Yellow Organic Whale Tails

Directions: In a small bowl, combine salsa and ranch dressing. Set aside. Combine remaining ingredients in a seperate bowl, add dressing, and serve.
4. Mango Salsa- adapted from simplyrecipies.com

• 1 peeled, pitted, and diced mango, ripe (about 1 1/2 cup) 
• 1/2 finely chopped red onion, medium
• 1 minced jalapeño chile 
• 1 peeled and diced cucumber, small (about 1 cup)
• 3 tbsp of choped cilantro leaves
• 3 tbsp of lime juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a bowl and enjoy with our Hawaiian Barbeque Organic Whale Tails.
Whale done! *Cue the clapping seal* We hope you enjoyed these recipes. For more healthy snacks, please contact us today.

Everyday Whales Your Friends Totally Won't Make Fun of You for Owning

Okay, so I lied. If you’re having friends over for a whale tail salsa session, you might want to hide these other whale accessories. Some people just won’t understand your perfectly harmless, and completely normal obession with whales.

Whale iPhone Cover- Surprisingly functional, this iPhone case has hidden compartments to store your headphones and other small items. The tail also works like a stand, or a hook for hanging the phone, and can even be used to wrap the headphone cord around. It's also great for making you look like you have a weird tumor growing out of your ear.

Octa TabletTail Whale Kit-
Speaking of technology themed whale swag, this tail serves as an iPad stand. The base suctions right to the back of the tablet, and the flexible tail moves until you’ve got the perfect angle for watching all of your favorite whale videos, alone.
 
Whale Bookends-
Perfect for the book worm with shelves of Moby Dick, this whale keeps your books standing straight. Good luck explaining why you still read paper books, though.

Bottle Whales-
If you’re having salsa and whale tail chips, it might be tempting to break out your whale tail bottle opener. If you want your friends to start calling you names like, “Whale Head” and “Crazy Whale Dude,” go right ahead. If not, then tuck this bad boy away for another night.

Killer Whale Costume-
If you decide to wear this to your party, there’s just no hope for you. You might as well let your whale flag fly, and embrace your strange obsession with whales. They probably make better friends than humans anyway…
One or two of these items might be socially acceptable, but be weary of displaying your whole collection on the first date. And when you run out of chips, or friends, contact us.

Of Gray Oceans and Red-Orange Salsa

Winter is a beautiful time to be near the ocean. Gray skies blend seamlessly into the horizon, making it difficult to discern where sky meets sea. Northern Pacific storms create epic surfing conditions up and down the west coast, washing natural treasures onto sandy beaches. The shoreline is pristine and quiet; sometimes the only footprints left behind are those made by flocks of Rock Sandpipers and California Gulls.
But still.
In the depths of winter (albeit a California one), we here at Whale Tails yearn for the heat of the sun and a little color to brighten our days. Even the hearty soups and stews that are a mainstay this time of year are beginning to feel a little heavy and overdone. But with the relief of spring feeling like an eternity from now, what's a sun-starved soul to do?
Make winter salsa, of course. A spicy, citrusy salsa that warms the belly, clears the sinuses and brightens any table, even on the darkest of days.
Dog Days of Winter Salsaadapted from Gourmet magazine
1 28-oz. can whole or chopped tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 dried chiles japones*
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped small
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 navel orange
1 T chopped fresh cilantro
1/3 cup olive oil
1 T fresh lime juice
1/2 t. salt
In a skillet over medium-low heat, add 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil. When oil is hot, add chiles japones. Turn until all sides of chiles have blackened. Remove from pan. Turn up heat to medium. Add onions and yellow bell pepper, sauteeing until vegetables are soft, about five minutes.
Grate 1/2 tsp. of zest from orange and reserve. Squeeze juice from orange. Add orange juice to onion mixture and cook 1 minute. Set aside.
In small food processor, add remaining olive oil and blackened chiles; puree. Dice tomato and in a medium bowl, add reserved zest, onion mixture, garlic, cilantro, lime juice and salt. Add oil/chile mixture. Stir until well mixed. Salsa keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week.

* available at Hispanic markets
contact us

What in the whale is biomimicry?

In the midst of talks about Earth-friendly technology and green initiatives for the planet's future, one term the scientific community has been buzzing about recently is "biomimicry." It sure sounds important, but what is it, exactly?

Well, what comes to mind when we think of mimicry in nature? How about the phasmid, better known by its nickname, the walking stick? Think also about the amazing leaf insect, whose foliage-inspired camouflage is so accurate, it has parts on its body that mimic bite marks--they even move just like real leaves, swaying in the breeze. Both of these critters got their disguises and behaviors from the environments they live in--basically, through evolution, they borrowed an idea from nature and made it work for them.

Biomimicry is basically the same thing, but for humans. It is, as Janine M. Beynus describes, "about looking to nature for inspiration for new inventions." As a science, it's grounded in neither nature nor technology exclusively; rather, it takes the two seemingly-opposing fields and aims to blend them together for mutual benefit.

There's already been plenty of well-documented examples of biomimicry in action in the scientific world, and the results are impressive, to say the least. For instance, take a look at this special adhesive inspired by the sticky pads on a gecko's feet, perfect for medical bandages, or a concept for self-cleaning surfaces based on the leaves of the sacred lotus, or (one of our favorites) this concept for boat rudders based on humpback whale flippers. More info on specific projects and ideas can be found at www.asknature.org--chances are, if there's a problem that needs solving, nature has the perfect answer!

Of course, Whale Tails Tortilla Chips are a great example of biomimicry in action, too! The whale's tail is perfectly made for powerful strokes through the deep blue sea; likewise, our chips swim through salsa like no other! As always, contact us for more info on the marvels of nature and their role in eco-friendly initiatives.

Another Great Chips n Dips Combo

As you know, Whales Tails Tortilla Chips go great with many different types of dips. You can find a lot of those dips and salsas in the chip aisles of the stores where our chips are sold, and for people on the go, it's a convenient snack option. In a previous post, we told you about making salsa at home. It's a great way to get the freshest ingredients and to experiment with many different flavor combinations. However, one of the greatest chips n dips combinations ever is guacamole and Whales Tails chips. Guacamole is just as easy to make at home.

The key to fresh guacamole is the avocado. For a batch of guacamole for one person, you probably won't need more than three or four small avocados. Don't make too much because guacamole won't stay fresh for more than a day or two. When selecting an avocado, pick up the avocado and press it gently with your thumb. If the avocado is too firm, it is not ripe and won't mash or cut easily. However, if the avocado is too soft and your thumb breaks through the skin, the avocado is too ripe.

After washing the avocados, you'll need to peel them. Get a table knife and cut lengthwise all the way around the avocado. You won't be able to get the knife all the way through because of the seed in the middle of the avocado. If you pull gently on one of the sides of the avocado, it should tear away and reveal the large round seed inside. Get a spoon and gently remove the seed. Then use the spoon to scoop out the green avocado "meat" into a bowl. Sometimes the meat is yellow or brown on the edges closes to the peel, but this is perfectly normal and safe to eat. Discard the seeds and peels.

Once you have scooped out all your avocados, use a fork to gently mash them. The consistency should be like mashed potatoes and not too lumpy, but smoothness is a matter of personal preference. Get a couple of lemons and squeeze them onto the avocados. The lemons add a bit of tangy flavor and keep the avocados from turning brown. Make sure that you remove any lemon seeds that might fall into the bowl. Then stir in a little garlic salt to taste. You can let your guacamole refrigerate to let the flavors combine before eating, or, if you can't wait, dig in!

As with the salsa, you can experiment with many different ingredients. Washed and finely chopped cilantro, onions, jalapenos, or tomatoes will give the guacamole extra flavor, or you could sprinkle cumin or chili powder in for extra seasoning. Use your imagination and have fun with it!

For any other ideas on how to enjoy Whales Tails Tortilla Chips or our products, contact us.

A Great Chips N Dips Combo

One of the best chips n dips combos ever is tortilla chips with salsa. There are many great varieties available in stores that carry Whale Tails Chips, but making salsa at home needn't be difficult or time consuming. In fact, making salsa gives you the freshest taste possible and allows you to experiment with many different combinations of flavors.

One of the easiest salsas that you can make to enjoy with our chips is pico de gallo. To make a batch enough for one person, all you need are a few fresh Roma tomatoes, one fresh jalapeno pepper, a small onion, a couple of limes, and some cilantro stalks. After throughly washing all of the ingredients, cut the tomatoes and onions into small pieces and place them in a large mixing bowl. Cut the cilantro leaves and stalks into bite-size pieces and mix it with the tomatoes and onions. Carefully cut the jalenpeno into small pieces. If you want a milder salsa, you might want to remove the seeds from the jalapeno before you put it into the mixing bowl. Finally, squeeze the limes and pour the juice into the bowl. Be careful to make sure that none of the seeds fall into the bowl with the juice. Stir everything together. Refrigerate the salsa for around an hour so that the ingredients have a chance to blend, and then dig in with some Whale Tails Chips!

This recipe can be altered, depending on your taste. For example, if you want an even spicier mix, you could use serrano peppers instead of jalapenos. Or you could add in bits of mango, peaches. You might prefer tangy green tomatoes to Romas. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

For more ideas on what goes well with our chips, or if you have any other questions, contact us.