Welcome to the Pecan Store Blog. As you know we are passionate about nuts. In fact our philosophy is simple: we go nuts for pecans! Southern Arizona’s warm days and cool nights combined with excellent soil and water quality are the best ingredients for the world’s best nuts. Whether you’re baking a traditional pie, adding a little extra zest to your salad dressing or giving your diet a much-needed health boost, The Pecan Store always has the freshest, highest-quality products available, every time you need them.
Pecan Store January 19th, 2010
I have a huge weakness for dark chocolate. I’m not really a chocoholic, but dark chocolate gets me every time. Which is exactly why I’m posting this video.
Watch this short YouTube video below to see how these decadently delicious Dark Chocolate Pecan Squares come together. I love how it’s exactly like making a pecan pie, only simpler and quicker with a surprise layer of dark chocolate at the bottom.
Pecan Store January 13th, 2010
My dog is definitely spoiled. He gets more treats, walks and belly rubs than he can handle in a day. But, I’ve never considered baking for my favorite furry friend until now.
I came across this video on YouTube for Banana Pecan Dog Cake. It seemed strange at first, but then I realized that animals, just like humans, have basic nutritional needs too. And, after the tainted dog food scare a couple of years back, I’ve always been left wondering what’s really in that bag I get from the store.
Check out the video here for Banana Pecan Dog Cake and let me know if your dog likes it. I can already tell you that mine will love it.
Pecan Store January 11th, 2010
I realized lately that I go through the Starbucks drive-thru far too often. And as soon as I find a drink that I really love, they discontinue it. Thankfully, I’ve discovered Torani syrups.
For just $7.95 for a 750 ml bottle, I can now have Starbucks-like coffee without having to wait in line. My personal favorite is the English Toffee, but they also have a fantastic Butter Pecan flavor and pretty much any flavor you could think of, including sugar-free varieties.
I’ve seen them in stores like Cost Plus World Market and at smaller coffee shops, but you can also order them online. I highly recommend having it on hand for those days you need a little extra something to get going in the morning.
Pecan Store January 8th, 2010
It’s the first post of a new year and after much internal debate, I’ve finally made my New Year’s Resolution: Meatless Monday.
What is Meatless Monday, exactly? I’m sure you’ve already guessed, but it’s an effort to go meat-free every Monday. There’s even an entire website dedicated to the cause and they feature some pretty tasty pecan dishes.
I happened upon the site because I have heard a couple of times now that pecans are a good substitute for meat and was searching for a recipe that could demonstrate how it’s done. Although I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for, I’m glad I have a new resolution for the year.
And interestingly enough, Meatless Monday is not a new phenomenon. It all started in World War I when the government asked citizens to observe “Meatless Monday” and “Wheatless Wednesday” in an effort to reduce consumption and aid the war effort.
Word spread and according to MeatlessMonday.com, “The effect was overwhelming…In November 1917, New York City hotels saved some 116 tons of meat over the course of just one week.” That’s pretty powerful stuff.
In addition to saving resources, going meat-free for just one day can have highly-beneficial effects on your overall health. The site features plenty of recipes that don’t feature meat, and I think I might have to start with the Sweet Potato Pecan Pancakes Check it out and let me know if you’re going meatless every Monday.
photo credit: Made in Mississippi
Pecan Store January 2nd, 2010
Since it has been quite chilly these days, I have had a craving for a hot bowl of soup. I typically stick to the basics such as chicken noodle and tomato. I decided to step out of the box and try something new. I was researching different recipes when I came across a recipe from Gourmet for sweet potato soup with butter pecans. It was a delicious combination of soft sweet potatoes and crunchy pecans. Check out the recipe for yourself!
photo credit: norwichnuts
Pecan Store December 29th, 2009
I have had so many delicious meals over this holiday season, and I have never felt so full before. I found a wonderful snack to keep me full that is healthy and quite sweet. The recipe contains pecans that are sautéed in butter and then toasted in the oven with a tablespoon of honey. I can eat this great snack without the worry of adding onto my holiday weight. Even though the New Year is only a few days away, I feel I can cut back on the holiday leftovers and enjoy more healthy snacks.
Pecan Store December 28th, 2009
Hope you’re having a great holiday season. As you know I love cooking with pecans and have recently posted recipes that I tried and really enjoyed. Today, I am posting some great ideas of recipes from fellow bloggers who have made all different dishes with Green Valley Pecans.
Dessert is my favorite, and I found two great dessert recipes! The first recipe is from Meet Me in the Kitchen blogger Mary Ann and is a pumpkin cake with whipped cream. The pictures of the cake look wonderful.
Another dessert recipe that I cannot wait to try is pecan squares posted by Barbara on Baking with Barbara. The way she describes the pecan squares makes me feel like I can taste there sweet, rich caramel-covered pecans and truly makes my mouth water. It looks like a great recipe to use for holiday baking.
During the holidays, snacking is my weakness and I am always looking for a new snack to try. I found this recipe for granola on Baking and Boys by Katrina. The mixture of pecans, nectar, applesauce and honey looks like a great mixture of flavors. It would be a great snack whether you mix it with yogurt or just grab a few handfuls at a time.
Who could resist a warm muffin and a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter morning? I know I couldn’t! The blueberry crumb cake from Shari on the Whisk blog is the next recipe I am going to make since it has been quite chilly in the morning.
The last recipe I would like to call attention to today is a mandarin orange and pecan spinach salad. It is a great recipe if you are looking to get away from all of the heavy holiday meals or just to use as a great starter salad for dinner. Either way it sounds delicious.
photo credit: visualpanic
Pecan Store December 25th, 2009
It’s my favorite time of year and I can’t wait to spend it with my family and lots of fantastic food. From all of us here at The Pecan Store, we wish you and your family a very happy holiday.
photo credit: the prodigal untitled13
Pecan Store December 22nd, 2009
When I was at the Sahuarita Pecan Festival a couple of weekends ago, I discovered Simmons’ Honey Ranchito. More specifically, their Arizona Mesquite Honey.
And after trying their honey, I can honestly say that I will never purchase honey from the grocery store again.
I could not believe how much flavor was in this honey! It was fantastic! Never being a huge fan of the stuff before, I am now a true believer and even prefer it to sugar now to sweeten everything.
I always felt that store-bought honey didn’t really have a flavor other than “sweet”. But this honey has depth and flavor. I’ll just let you know that it’s really fantastic and worth hunting for.
Sadly, I’ve been trying to find a website for the honey to post for you, but cannot find anything. All I can find is that they sell their products at Bisbee and Sierra Vista Farmers’ Markets and at local stores in Cochise County. Anyone up for a road trip?
Pecan Store December 18th, 2009
A friend of mine forwarded a link from Delish.com about how to “Host an Elegant Appetizer Party.” I absolutely love this idea, especially for the holidays. With so much going on, it’s sometimes incredibly difficult to even get dinner on the table, let alone serve an entire party. These simple, yet scrumptious appetizers are sure to hit the spot and fill up guests without sacrificing the happy in your holiday party.
Some of my favorite recipes from the slideshow include:
Check out the full slideshow here, and get ready to savor the holidays.
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