



Near the highway in our little town stands a huge old pecan tree.
Once I figured out what it was, I've wanted to go pick pecans in the fall. It's one of those places where little people shouldn't be.... cars are driving by too quickly. It seems I'd have the best of intentions to go alone and then forget until it was too late in the season.
But seeing as this will be our last fall here in the south.... it's kind of one of those now or never things. So my little girl and I set out with basket in hand to pick a few. We picked quite a lot. Turning our hands brown from the green outer husks.
We brought them home and peeled off the outer layer. Now they are in a cloth bag curing for a few weeks before we start cracking the shells off.
I'm thinking another nut butter is in order, with free pecans.... now that truly is a bargain!
yummola!!
Posted by: Stacy | October 04, 2012 at 03:10 PM
Haha...the little old man in the white pickup will be disappointed. I'm sure there is enough to go around though. He is the only person I have seen there picking in all the years I have lived here.
Posted by: Stephenie | October 04, 2012 at 03:24 PM
I thought of him.... and you know? I think he'll be glad to share them. That tree is loaded! We've only gone once, but we plan to go again :)
Posted by: Stephinie | October 04, 2012 at 03:31 PM
My thoughts exactly!
Posted by: Stephinie | October 04, 2012 at 03:32 PM
Nice!
We have hundreds of thousands of those trees within a stones throw of my house. It is called a
Pecan Orchard. We are one of the major pecan places in the U.S. They will be harvesting just after the 1st frost.
A friend of mine walks her dog there after harvest & gleans bags full. She usually gives me some of the ones she has shelled. Good Stuff!
Posted by: Elephant Lady | October 04, 2012 at 05:27 PM
They are wonderful aren't they? They are my favorite nut to bake with..... but so expensive. I'm looking forward to bags of free ones in the freezer!
Posted by: Stephinie | October 04, 2012 at 05:29 PM
This gave me an unexpected burst of nostalgia... we had a pecan tree in the yard while we were growing up. The tree was enormous and the fallen nuts would cover most of our front yard every year. What a super happy thing to remember...thanks for sharing! :)
Posted by: Mackenzie {WhiletheWaterBoils} | October 04, 2012 at 05:47 PM
Awesome!
Posted by: Kim | October 04, 2012 at 08:16 PM
I was walking at the front of the neighborhood the other day and there is a tree dropping them light mad right on the sidewalk. I had to fight the urge to fill up my pockets..rofl Yep, Mr. White Truck will be glad to share, I know. :) Enjoy!
Posted by: Stephenie | October 04, 2012 at 09:47 PM
*like not light..lol
Posted by: Stephenie | October 04, 2012 at 09:47 PM
What beautiful photos of the pecans. Looking at the colorful nuts made me realize that I have never seen fresh pecans before. I'm jealous that you got so many for free!
Posted by: Casey- Sesame Seed Designs | October 05, 2012 at 01:03 AM
What a wonderful tree to have in the yard :)
Posted by: Stephinie | October 05, 2012 at 08:15 AM
I had no idea what they were when we first got here. I picked a green one off the ground on a walk and brought it home. I squeezed it and the tiniest bit of liquid from it made my hands turn brown. Luckily a local finally laughed and said "it's just a pecan."
Posted by: Stephinie | October 05, 2012 at 08:17 AM
we had a few pecan trees in our yard that we lost during hurricane gustav -- we mourned.
Posted by: amanda {the habit of being} | October 05, 2012 at 10:59 AM
I can only imagine. We have three oaks & I would be sad to see them go. They sure are a lot to clean up after..... but the shade from them is the best!
Posted by: Stephinie | October 05, 2012 at 06:03 PM
Pecan butter is tasty though I found the raw version a little bland. I was hoping it would have that buttery sweetness of the nuts. What a lucky to have that tree near by!
Posted by: KC | October 05, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Good to know. We had a walnut pecan blend over the summer... not sure if it was raw. I think I'll try lightly toasting the nuts to release the oils. I remember the first (and only) time I bought untoasted sesame oil. I was so disappointed at the bland flavor!
Posted by: Stephinie | October 07, 2012 at 02:52 PM
I made pecan butter several years ago when I found out how you could make it---food/health blogs were new and revolutionary---with some pecans from my parent's yard. Very good and they were impressed! Enjoy!
Posted by: Misti | October 11, 2012 at 09:15 AM
I'm glad to know :) I'm so looking forward to it!
Posted by: Stephinie | October 13, 2012 at 10:01 PM
The green ones may not be good. They turn brown when they are ready and the nut(shell) falls out. I pick them up every year here, from my grandfather's trees. I hope to plant my own some day.
Posted by: Carrie | October 29, 2012 at 01:37 PM
My eager picker got a few green ones, but I was told they were good as long as the green was cracked open and came off easily. Also they had to cure. I'll be finding out soon as I plan to shell them mid month!
Posted by: Stephinie | November 01, 2012 at 10:43 AM