Toasted pecans from CARTI's Festivities, Too cookbook |
Last year an estimated 2.6 million pecans were harvested from orchards
E's Bistro's Lemon Pecan Pie. |
Pecans are native to Arkansas. They were highly valued by Native Americans, who traded and consumed them. Spanish explorers thought they were another sort of walnut and called them nueces, or “fruit of the walnut.” They’re a great source of protein, and somewhat easier to crack than walnuts.
Blue Mountain Bakery's Sticky Rolls. |
Praline pecans from Ozark Candy & Nuts. |
"Pecan Row" by Grav Weldon, taken near Scott. |
Pecan trees are common across the state, and you’ll see them here and there. I even have one in my backyard, though the squirrels seem to reap the bounty the tree offers before the nuts hit the ground. There is a stretch of highway near Scott where pecan trees line either side of the road, offering a shady tunnel during the summer and a stark
Pecan pie at Chip's Barbecue. |
Nana Deane's Coconut Pecan Pie, recipe in Arkansas Pie |
Pecan fried pie at Grandpa's BBQ. |
Some places, like Skinny J’s in Jonesboro and Grandpa’s Catfish in Cabot even serve up fried pecan pies.
Pecans can be found in sweet potato casseroles, mixed into the cranberry relish and even included in a good cornmeal dressing. What better food to celebrate during November?
Now, as many of you know, I've been developing a rather ridiculous intolerance to corn grain. I apparently can eat corn off the cob; it's the corn that's used as grain that's been
Most pecan pies are made with Karo syrup. How am I getting around that? Simple. I'm thinking for Thanksgiving, a brown sugar pecan pie will grace my table.
Brown Sugar Pecan Pie
2 eggs, beaten
2 sticks (1/2 pound) butter, melted
1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar (the white stuff)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup pecan halves
1 blind baked flour pastry pie shell (store-bought is acceptable, too)
Caramel Pecan Pie at Sweet Treats. |
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat the heck out of the eggs. Pour in the melted butter, both sugars and the vanilla and incorporate thoroughly. Shake chopped pecans with all-purpose flour and add to the mix.
Pour into pie shell. Top with pecan halves. Bake for 45 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Oh yum!!! Love me some pecan pie. Luckily, we have pecan trees on our farm in NE Ark. So we NEVER have to buy them...
ReplyDeleteWill have to try the pie at Greenhouse Grille. Love that place!
When I was a little girl, my mother loved to buy the little pecan pies from Stuckey's whenever we would drive from Little Rock to Fayetteville. I couldn't imagine a pie made of nuts tasting good - but as an adult, it's become one of my very favorites. Thanks for sharing your stories!
ReplyDeleteLoved this! Wish I could find pecans for $3 a pound! We have tried several of the ones you mentioned, but we will be on a quest to sample them all. I think Hubby's taking me to GG this weekend for a piece:). Hope you are doing well.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your book. Do you have a book signing schedule? Also where In Little Rock would you take out of town business people to eat?
ReplyDeleteYou'll find the book signing schedule on ArkansasPie.com. It'll be updated as more dates are added.
ReplyDeleteBusiness folks? B-Side or Ashley's for breakfast or brunch, Ciao or CBG for lunch, and Rocket 21 or Lilly's Dim Sum Then Some for dinner.
One of the best "little" pecan pies is sold by the Magnolia Bake Shop on the square in Magnolia, Arkansas. If you get a chance, come on down, check out the little pies and the new "upscale" eatery on the square "The West End."
ReplyDeleteWe still pick up our neighbors pecans as well as buying them in 10 lb sacks from a farm in the Red River Bottoms in Garland Arkansas. We just finished shelling the last ones in our freezer last week.
James F. (and Annette) McClellan
"Old Poop" and "The Incredible Wife Of His Youth"
Editor/Publisher "Bug's Bleat"
http://bugsbleat.blogspot.com/
NREMT-I, KC5HII, CSP (Retired)
Magnolia, Arkansas USA
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