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Pecans are delectable additions to your cooking at any time of the year. But during the holidays, pecan dishes seem to add to the festivities with their aromas and versatility. From appetizers to desserts, incorporating pecans in your holiday menu is a wonderful way to celebrate traditions.

Appetizers

Sometimes we forget simply adding a handful of toasted pecans to a dip or spread can add sophistication, flavor, and texture. Next time you are serving cheese with a preserve as an appetizer, consider this Cherry-Pecan Brie recipe. Pecans in the cherry preserve add crunch, protein, and extra nutrition.

Cream cheese spreads are another appetizer favorite, especially during the holidays. Try this Cream Cheese-and-Olive Pecan Bites recipe. The toasted pecans and cream cheese are a great creamy/ crunchy combination, and the pecans can be served open-faced or in a sandwich style. You can also add variety by using flavored pecans, modifying the olive flavor, or by using goat cheese instead of cream cheese. Continue reading From Appetizers to Desserts – How to Cook with Pecans

The aroma of a barbeque pit in action brings to mind carefree cooking jam-packed with flavor. However, mouthwatering smells can easily turn into burnt dreams in a flash if you do these five things when grilling:

Mistake #1: “I’ll throw the meat on when I light the pit.”

Big mistake. If you are using charcoal and start grilling meat while the pit is still heating, then chemicals in the charcoal will flavor your food. You want to allow approximately 15 minutes for your grill to heat – lid down is best. Your grill should sear the food on contact. This will decrease cook time and prevent sticking.

Mistake #2: “Oops! I forgot to prep!”

Prepping is an essential process before cooking any dish. You don’t want to risk overcooking (or worse, burning) what’s on the grill because you have to dash in the kitchen to chop onions or to grab your secret seasoning mix. Continue reading Don’t Do These Five Things When Grilling

Anniversaries are thought to be a time of reminiscing and romance. But when you make one of these mistakes, whispering sweet nothings over a fancy dinner may turn into folded arms, staring out the window, and a long silent ride back to the homestead.

“Babe, I thought it was tomorrow.”

Set a reminder on your phone. Put it on a sticky note and a stick it in your office. Stick it on your debit card. Stick it in your shoes. Do not forget this date. You forget the date, you may suffer spousal acts of passive aggression which can lead to no food in the house, dirty dishes piled for days, or grass growing tall enough you could bale hay in your front yard. Continue reading Three Anniversary Mistakes That Make You Look Like the Worst Spouse EVER

If you are interested in harvesting your pecans, late September through November is the time when pecans begin falling. Keep in mind if your pecan tree experienced insect infestation or went through a late freeze, the nut’s quality and amount of nuts falling to the ground might be adversely affected. For this reason, scouting which trees appear healthier and contain larger husks is an important step in preparing for harvest.

Observation and Preparation

When pecans are ready, the husks will begin to split. Once you observe this on the tree, start cleaning underneath the tree to make harvesting easier. Cut the grass underneath the canopy and make the harvest area free from as much debris as possible. Continue reading How to Know When to Harvest Your Pecans

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