Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
During the holidays, recipes that feature nuts abound. In Jefferson County, we have easy access to one of the best nuts on the planet: pecans! While you might be tempted to shell out extra money for fancy walnuts, pistachios or almonds, the North Florida – South Georgia agricultural economy provides us with delicious, locally sourced pecans that we can savor all year long.
Pecans appear in many special holiday recipes, and they can replace other nuts in almost any ingredients list. The Jefferson Farmer's Market on East Washington Street offers several varieties, or you or a neighbor might have a pecan tree to pick from in the yard. Housing developments in our area sometimes spring up in aging pecan groves, providing residents with shade in the summer and nuts through the fall and early winter months.
When my husband and I moved to Jefferson County in 1992, the property we chose included a section of aging pecan trees. We harvested commercially for a few years, but as time and wind brought the number of trees down, we now just gather for ourselves and family. In my childhood, pecans had been primarily a holiday ingredient, but now they are a nut that we keep in the freezer to use all year long.
Take a look at how many ways you can use pecans! Most of these ideas I've tried, while others are on my “pecan bucket list.”
Sweet Treats
1. maple pecan pie
2. grasshopper pie
3. many other pies!
4. pecan tassies
5. pecan sandies
6. cowboy cookies
7. baklava
8. pie crust with ground pecans
9. ice cream topping
10. banana-nut bread
11. fruit salad with pecans
12. divinity with pecans
13. sugared pecans
14. zucchini-pecan bread
15. cranberry salad with pecans
16. nutty fudge
17. rum-pecan sauce
18. pralines
19. butter-pecan ice cream
20. hummingbird cake
21. pecan torte
22. brownies with pecans
23. orange-pecan bars
24. caramel-pecan popcorn
25. pecan log
Savory Sensations
1. nut “meat” loaf
2. pecan-crusted cheese ball
3. pecan-crusted salmon
4. turkey with harvest dressing
5. chicken salad with sliced pecans
6. herbed rice with nuts
7. spicy pecans
8. pecan-stuffed celery
9. cheesy pecan wafers
10. pecan bread
11. asparagus with pecan sauce
12. “breaded” eggplant
13. yams with pecan topping
14. pecan chicken
15. “breaded” pork chops
16. basil pesto with pecans
17. cream of pecan soup
18. onion soup with pecan crust
19. pecan stuffed mushrooms
20. garlic-soy pecans
21. deep-fried pecans
22. pecan stuffed eggs
23. carrots with pecan glaze
24. jalapeño pecan cheese spread
25. oatmeal topped with pecans
These lists could go on and on! In addition to the delicious options above, here's one more idea from delish.com that might provide an interesting twist for your favorite creamy drink or cocktail.
1. Warm 3 tablespoons of caramel until it is pourable and place it in a shallow dish wider than your drinking cup/glass.
2. Toast 1/4 cup chopped pecans and place in a separate shallow dish.
3. Dip the rim of your glass first into the caramel and then into the chopped pecans.
4. Fill the glass with a crème de cocoa cocktail or other creamy drink.
Cheers!