Stock Up! Why You Should Buy Pecans in Bulk

043crp2Pecans should not appear just around the holidays as a treat or in a warm pecan pie. They should appear all year, in all kinds of food, because they are incredibly nutritious and can add just the right amount of flavor and crunch to a dish. How do you make sure you have pecans to last all year? Stock up! Here are the reasons why:

Excellent Snack

Sometimes, we forget about snacking on nuts because it can be easier to grab that bag of chips. However, pecans are a great alternative to less-healthy options. They are filled with essential vitamins, fiber, and protein (nutritional content here).

Delicious Garnish

Pecans act as an excellent garnish and can accompany many dishes, such as salads, fish or desserts. If you have pecans stocked up, then you never have to worry whether or not your dish could be improved by their presence. Be adventurous with your cooking! Continue reading Stock Up! Why You Should Buy Pecans in Bulk

The Emily Post Guide to Throwing the Perfect Holiday Party

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Party lights and decorations by christmasstockimages.com is licensed under CC by 3.0.

Remember to keep your party simple and focus on what matters most to you and your guests – enjoying each other’s presence. Follow this guide and you surely will throw the perfect holiday party where you will make your guests feel content and welcome:

1. Preparation

Be sure everything needed to be prepped is done before guests arrive: a planned meal, a variety of beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and outdoor lighting.

2. Self-Awareness

Your guests will feed off of your demeanor. Display no stress, agitation, or disappointment. Be the twinkling light of the party.

3. Toasting

Once you deem the moment appropriate, make a toast thanking your guests for attending. Add meaningful details about their importance in your life. Continue reading The Emily Post Guide to Throwing the Perfect Holiday Party

10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Outdoorsman

father and son huntingFor some people on your gift-list, it gets increasingly more difficult to find a gift they will not only enjoy but also find useful. Outdoorsmen are no exception. They seem to always have new trinkets and gadgets for making their adventures fun and successful. So, if you have an outdoorsman or two on your gift list, consider these unique ideas for making your gift to them a memorable one.

Olloclip
Light and easy lens attachments for mobile photography. Great for capturing beauty observed in the stand, a great kill, or the wood’s serenity.

Trail Camera
Easy way for hunters to see what moves around the stand when they aren’t perched and ready to take aim.

GoPro
Incredibly crisp, clear images of an outdoorsman’s adventures.

Multitool
Any outdoorsman can’t have too many multitools (one to keep in the truck, at the camp, in the backpack, in the office desk) Continue reading 10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Outdoorsman

Can’t Keep Up? 7 Ways to Simplify Your Holiday Gift Buying

crowded mallGift buying can certainly be a time of over complication. Lists, budgets and people’s wishes all factor in when making decisions about what to buy. Here are seven ways to make the holiday gift buying experience a little less complicated:

1. Start Early

Don’t wait until the week before the holiday to think about what to get. This may cause you to spend too much money and choose something that person may not want.

2. Create a Master List Way Ahead of Time

Take the time to create a list of every person and animal you are planning to buy a gift for so you won’t forget anyone.

3. Year Around Amazon

Create a wish list on Amazon to stash potential gifts for people throughout the year when they mention a desired product. When the time comes for purchasing, you have it all organized and ready with thoughtful, wanted gifts.

Continue reading Can’t Keep Up? 7 Ways to Simplify Your Holiday Gift Buying

Five Dinner Party Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making

There is quite a lot of pressure when hosting a dinner party. What you anticipate to be a fun and festive evening can turn into a “what was I thinking?!” personal meltdown in the kitchen. Consider not doing the following when thinking about hosting a dinner party:

Complicated Recipes

A complicated and untested recipe can lead to high costs and a not so good end result. Unfamiliarity with the recipe can cause you to forget a step or ingredient, consequently, making your much looked forward to entree to become the most avoided dish at the table.

Not Having Food Ready When Guests Arrive

Guests are more than likely coming to your dinner party hungry and won’t want to wait all night for the food to finish cooking. Further, if you forget to prep and organize, your kitchen may transform into a very messy gathering place. Continue reading Five Dinner Party Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making

The Top Ten Corporate Gift Ideas

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It’s that time of year for showing thanks by giving gifts. Sometimes gift giving—especially in the corporate workplace—can be difficult because it may appear most people have every essential item or trinket they need. However, there is something out there even for the most savvy and well-accessorized clients and employees. Here are ten gift ideas for the corporate setting and for those who appear to have it all:

1. Silver Letter Opener

This classy gift can be customized with the company logo, a quote, or the person’s name and job title.

2. Cell Phone/ Business Card Holder

This is a functional gift idea to keep desk space organized with two of the most commonly grabbed items on a person’s desk. You can also customize this gift if desired.

3. Fancy Picture Frames

A fancy picture frame, such as leather or metal, can add both sophistication and warmth to an office.

Continue reading The Top Ten Corporate Gift Ideas

Why Pecan Oil Belongs in Your Kitchen

pecan-oilMany considerations take place when deciding which cooking oil to use for food preparation: saturated fat content, flavor potency, versatility, and overall delectability. If a cook is mindful of fat content, both “good” and “bad” fat, the observant epicurean will notice pecan oil has one-third less saturated fat than olive oil. When compared to butter, it has two-thirds less saturated fat. From a fat standpoint, pecan oil looks pretty skinny. Continue reading Why Pecan Oil Belongs in Your Kitchen

Martha Stewart’s Top 10 Tips for a Hosting a Dinner Party

Outdoor dinner partyWhether it’s a festive Easter brunch or a warm and cozy wintertime gathering, if you’re in charge of putting together a big dinner for the family, it’s important that you know how to make the holiday a success from start to finish. Who better to guide you through the intense process than the legendary Martha Stewart? Consider using some of her helpful tips as you prepare to host a large number of people.

1. Nailing the Outside Décor — Depending on the season, an al fresco meal can be the perfect choice. If you plan on serving your guests in the backyard, make sure that your tablecloths are secured before you place plates or dishes on them. Martha encourages hitting the dollar store for weights in fun seasonal shapes, such as ceramic eggs for Easter or decorative jesters for Mardi Gras. If it’s chilly out, make sure that there are a few wreaths or garlands to let your guests know they are in a place of celebration.

2. Display the Season — Make a color palette before you start (such as Earth tones during Fall or pastels during Spring), and plan your menu and decorations around it. Look for timesavers wherever possible, such as buying pre-arranged bouquets in your colors instead of assembling your own. Continue reading Martha Stewart’s Top 10 Tips for a Hosting a Dinner Party

We Buy Pecans

WBP1It is a gentle reminder that pecan season is here when you begin to see the “We Buy Pecans” signs grace the front of many local businesses here in the Deep South. Typically the signs appear in front of small town feed stores, convenient shops or lumber yards. And typically it is the same businesses year-after-year who do the buying. Local residents get accustomed to bringing their daily pick to these locations, have their bag or bucket weighed and paid, cash, on the spot for a few hours’ worth of pecan picking. Continue reading We Buy Pecans

Prepare Your Holiday Meal in Record Time

Whether it’s the golden-brown turkey of Thanksgiving or the lovingly shaped latkes of Hanukah, the end of the year brings a feast that will draw the whole family together. However, getting the components of a meal together can be an ordeal, one that’s compounded by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Don’t waste time sweating in the kitchen when you could be making memories with your loved ones. Follow these simple rules to get your holiday meal on the table in a snap and enjoy the free time under the mistletoe with your favorite dinner guests. Continue reading Prepare Your Holiday Meal in Record Time