Author: Jady Regard

We all love pecans here, and of course we’d prefer you buy our locally-grown Louisiana pecans, but another joy is seeing someone grow their own pecans, joining us in our craft. Today, we’re going to tell you how to grow your own pecan trees and enjoy the nuts of your own labor.

How to Start

Many colleges have easy-to-understand guides for planting pecan trees. There are two ways to start growing your own pecans, but both take about two years before you can start a real harvest. The first way is to start with a fresh pecan in the shell. Plant your fresh pecans in the fall, as the nut germinates in cold weather and will be ready in the spring. Alternatively, you can use stratification to quickly germinate the nuts, making them ready for spring planting.

The other way to plant pecan trees is to plant a seedling. Instructions on how to test your soil and plant correctly can be found online, but the process is relatively easy. Soak your seedling’s roots for an hour, then dig a hole larger than your roots and place the seedling in it, just covering up to the plant. Water your trees immediately after planting,
Using either method, you should space your plantings about 30 to 35 feet apart to make sure your trees won’t squelch each others’ growth. Continue reading How to Grow Pecans in Your Backyard

Because we love cooking but hate paying so much at the grocery store, we love little tricks to save money. Be it by proper storage, preparations before cooking, efficient prep time, or repurposing of ingredients, you can save while still eating tasty, wholesome snacks.

Blow Into Your Bag Of Salad Greens

Wilting of greens, especially ones that are more delicate, can really ruin your salad. To prevent oxidation, the cause of wilting, breathe out into your bag of greens. After sealing the bag, you’ve done what many food transporters do to their products: placing a layer of carbon dioxide to keep oxygen away. Your greens may look silly in inflated bags, but their longer shelf life will pay itself back. Continue reading 6 Cheap Food Hacks: A Cheat Sheet for Frugal Cooking

One of the best things about pecans is how incredibly versatile they are. We love them in all sorts of dishes, not to mention on their own as a delicious and nutritious snack. In breads and entrees, appetizer nibbles and sophisticated desserts, you’re always able to find a new way to use pecans in the kitchen.

Toasting

Many recipes start with toasted pecans, a process which brings out the aromas and flavors of the nut. While you can buy them that way, it’s easy to toast your own pecans and the freshness of the flavor is worth the extra effort.

Spread your pecans out on a greased baking tray and put them in the oven at 350° for 5-10 minutes. To add spices, coat the pecans in a mix of melted butter (about a tablespoon per half cup of pecans) and spices before adding, and toast for 20-25 minutes.

If you want less oily pecans, let them cool on paper towels or in a paper bag, then toast again for around ten minutes at 250°. Keep an eye on them to make sure you don’t scorch the delicate exterior.

Continue reading How to Cook With Pecans — The Ultimate Guide