Tuesday, January 22, 2013

A GIFT OF PECANS

Bags of pecans
Here is a gift from a person in the country.  They have some Pecan trees and said "hey, we have too many, do you want some?"  Um, YEAH!

That's the reason I bought our own pecan trees last season.  Someday, we hope to have so many pecans that we too can say we have "too many"...but really, is there such a thing as too many?  I suppose if you don't like pecans yes, but we happen to love them, especially in that Southern staple, Pecan Pie.


Pecan Pie, photo courtesy of FoodNetwork.com
These are full one gallon bags, total weight about 6 lbs.  It's my understanding that you can expect about 50% in actual meat once they are shelled.  So we'll have a shelling party soon and end up with about 3 lbs.  That should give us a few pecan pies and best of all, they are going to gather some more for us.
Any favorite pecan uses you have?  I know we can freeze them once shelled and use later in the year.

24 comments:

  1. pecans are one of three nuts i do not like. i'll only like them in butter pecan ice cream. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No pecans? Darn, I love them. But I'm glad you save room for butter pecan ice cream. Mmmm, Blue Bell butter pecan is wonderful. Hmmm, ice cream would help my sore throat....that's what I tell myself at least, ha.

      Delete
  2. Seems like I add them to almost everything--luckily the old home place has a couple of very prolific trees. Love to add them to homemade pimento cheese, also chicken salad. Spiced and toasted pecans, glazed pecans, pecan fudge, pecans in brownies. Like I said, almost everything--even made coleslaw for Christmas and added them to that (cabbage, chopped apple, pecans, little bit of onion, mayo and sugar).

    judydee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, to have old prolific trees like that. Mmm, pimento cheese? I LOVE that. Have never tried making it. And in coleslaw that sounds great too. Thanks!!

      Delete
  3. Pecans are wonderful nuts, especially in pecan pie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, be-still my beating heart. How I love pecan pie....sigh....

      Delete
  4. We love them toasted in our salads. Here's what looks like an easy recipe. I'm going to try these tonight.

    Pecan Pie Muffins (CITR)

    Ingredients
    1 cup packed light brown sugar
    1/2 cup all purpose flour
    1 cup chopped pecans
    2/3 cup softened butter
    2 eggs, beaten

    Directions
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    Butter and sprinkle with sugar, or line muffin cups with paper liners spritzed with baking spray.
    In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, and pecans.
    In a separate bowl, beat the butter and eggs together until smooth, stir into the dry ingredients just until combined.
    Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups.
    Cups should be about 2/3 full.
    Bake mini muffins for 20 to 25 minutes and full sized muffins for 30 minutes.
    Cool on wire racks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oooh, yes, I never thought about using them for our salads. I mean, I have put nuts on salad many times but when I saw all these, I totally forgot about that. And those muffins? Holy cow, thanks for sharing the recipe. I might just have to try those when we get these things shelled. Thank you!!!

      Delete
  5. Our favorite use, besides pie, is a topping for sweet potato casserole. They are delicious in sweet potato muffins too, chopped fine of course.

    You sure are lucky and I hope your trees yield you lots and lots in the years to come. I wish we had good friends who would share too because we almost went broke baking at Christmas and Thanksgiving - nuts are so expensive anymore. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG they are expensive aren't they? All nuts are crazy expensive. That's why I hope that SOMEDAY our two trees are producing. I need to remind them to share some more if they are feeling so inclined, ha.

      Delete
  6. I only eat them fresh. Can't stand canned pecans.
    Hubby loves cracking and eating them fresh, too.

    Since 2008 we have planted 10 or 11 of them, I think. Maybe more. One died, and one just isn't doing well so it will probably be taken out.
    Many of them are replacing trees that were lost over the years to weather or other circumstances. Most of the pecan trees here are quite old, really.

    Pecans are a fall crop here, in addition to eating, and take a minimum of 7-10 years before they start to produce. This year was a so-so year, selling wise. The prices never got over 50 cents a pound. But to buy, of course, is much higher.

    Enjoy your pecans! :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 50 cents a pound to sell? That's a rip off, considering how much they cost to buy, ha. Yeah, we were told 6-10 years, so I'm figuring that will happen eventually. That's definitely a long term plan. Might have to get some more though. Just scatter them around on the property, though watering them might be difficult the further away from the house they get, ha.

      Delete
  7. Love pecans,living in the south you get alot of them.I hope we have some on the property!If not there will be lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's definitely a southern staple huh? We didn't have any on the property (darn it) but I'm getting them on there. Have two good size ones ready to go in the ground. Updates on that when we get them in. Then let the waiting begin, ha.

      Delete
  8. Hi, just found your blog - I will enjoy reading through the posts - I am in UK.
    I love your story of how you got to where you are now, I used to live in the country but had to move due to circumstances beyond my control, but am striving so hard to get back again where my heart is.
    My motto ? 'Never Let Go of Your Dream' - well done.
    you're welcome for a visit to my blog if you have time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there! I've been sick so just now catching up on reading and replying to comments. I love that you shared that story. I hope you get your dream back too! Will check out your blog, thanks again for stopping by!!

      Delete
  9. You are sooooo lucky to have such nice friends with pecans to share! Pecans are a luxury item in my house, but I do enjoy them so much :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At the prices they command, definitely a luxury here too. I'll take free ones any day, ha.

      Delete
  10. German Chocolate Cake (Duncan Hines) with Coconut Pecan icing made from scratch (using evaporated milk). We use them in salads and cookies too. It's our favorite nut aroun here.
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. O.M.G. I LOVE german chocolate cake. Mmm, thanks for the reminder!! I think pecans are our favorite, or 'most used' anyway.

      Delete
  11. Don't plan on getting the 3 pounds out that! You'll eat at least 1/2 a pound while you're shelling. :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can imagine. Hmm, you wanna come help? LOL! Miss ya!

      Delete
  12. I love pecans. I have one tree that finally gave us some pecans that weren't all dried up this time.

    My very favorite way to eat them, and these are so addictive, is to take halves, toss with melted butter and salt and put in the oven at about 350 til they are all toasty bubbly hot. Let them cool a little and then start eating til they are all gone. Really, you won't be able to stop til they are all gone. Which won't be long, so make a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, how easy is that? I will DEFINITELY try that. Thanks for the suggestion. Mmm...need to get those dang things eaten, er, shelled....yummy!!!

      Delete

Please leave us a comment! I have some comment moderation on and of course will approve your comment relatively quickly. We love feedback and hearing what others have to share with us all. Please know that I can't always reply to it right away, but ALL comments are read. I will reply just as soon as I can so be sure to come back and see my reply.

Now, let us hear from you!