pecans

 

 

 

 

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!

 

Comments

[Stacy]

yummola!!

[Stephenie]

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.

[Stephinie]

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 :)

[Stephinie]

My thoughts exactly!

[Elephant Lady]

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!

[Stephinie]

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!

[Mackenzie {WhiletheWaterBoils}]

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! :)

[Kim]

Awesome!

[Stephenie]

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!

[Stephenie]

*like not light..lol

[Casey- Sesame Seed Designs]

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!

[Stephinie]

What a wonderful tree to have in the yard :)

[Stephinie]

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."

[amanda {the habit of being}]

we had a few pecan trees in our yard that we lost during hurricane gustav -- we mourned.

[Stephinie]

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!

[KC]

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!

[Stephinie]

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!

[Misti]

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!

[Stephinie]

I'm glad to know :) I'm so looking forward to it!

[Carrie]

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.

[Stephinie]

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!