Cardamon is also amazing in rice puddings. Never been able to figure out how to flavour basmati rice with them. Drinking cardamon infused tea too.

For shelled pistachios?? Wow, that's a great price as they are expensive.
I think I would have subbed another type of nut long before I shelled them. I love pistachios to shell and eat one by one but not to do all that for a recipe.
You know what else costs as much as gold---pine nuts!!! I love them but I could buy a steak for the price of a half cup of pine nuts.

can get expensive fast using premium ingredients such as valrhona chocolate

recipes anyone? i bought valrhona fèves and have no idea how to use them :D

And were they raw? That was the problem for me, couldn't find them anywhere.

There's a reason for that. Embargo of products from the pistachio's homeland and where it is most widely cultivated. The California Avocado growers would love a similar ban.

Another reason. Pest. The stone pine has been affected by an insect imported from the western U.S. that has severely diminished its ability to produce seed (production of seeds is a very energy-intensive activity for plants). The other species of pines that are sources of harvested seeds for human consumption just aren't the same.