Nutshell Tips

• Heating raw pecans for about 5-7 minutes in a 325 degrees oven will bring out the wonderful nutty flavor even more.

• Sprinkle pecans over breakfast yogurt or cereal.

• Add chopped pecans to green beans, the extra crunch is a great addition.

• Pecans are one of the largest fruit-bearing trees and they are native to the South.

• Pecan oil can be added to salad dressing.

• Small chopped or crushed pecans are wonderful to coat fish and chicken. You may brush on butter or olive oil to help the pecans to stick to the meat.

• Pecan and cheeses are a great flavor combination.

• Chopped pecans are a great sweet potato topper.

• Pecans make a good and nutritional snack, they can be mixed with other nuts and dried fruit.

• Pecans added to salads, ice cream, pies, cakes or any other food will add fiber and nutritional value.

posted by The Pecan Diva @ 1:08 PM

Cooking and Baking Tips

• Add one teaspoon of lemon juice to each quart of water when cooking rice, this will help to keep the rice fluffy and separated.

• When making a pie crust from scratch, make sure all ingredients are cold.

• Always sift dry ingredients for baking.

• When baking cheese cake, a small dish of water in the oven will prevent it from cracking in the center.

• Cook vegetables with one or more bouillon cubes instead of salt-improves flavor.

• Use sweet pickle juice to thin salad dressing or make French dressing with instead of vinegar.

• A teaspoon of sugar mixed with your yeast and water makes it raise better.

• Add a slice of lemon to peeled sweet potatoes while cooking. The lemon will keep them clear and free of discoloration and will help keep white potatoes extra white when mashed.

• Dip the blades of a knife or shears in hot water before cutting marshmallows, they won’t stick.

• To keep cheese and other toppings from sticking to aluminum foil spray the foil with a non stick cooking spray.

• When baking chicken in the oven, sprinkle paprika over it to turn it golden brown.

• Reduce oven heat by 25 degrees when baking in a glass container.

• To avoid tears when cutting onions, try cutting them under cold running water.

• To cut down on odors when cooking cabbage, cauliflower, etc. add a little vinegar to the cooking water.

• Egg shells can be easily removed from hard-boiled eggs if they are quickly rinsed in cold water after they are boiled.

• Perk up soggy lettuce by soaking it in a mixture of lemon juice and cold water.

• Never soak vegetables after slicing; they will lose much of their nutritional value.

• Instant potatoes are a good stew thickener.

• Thaw all meats in the refrigerator for maximum safety.

• When using a recipe from a cookbook, highlight the recipe in the index so it will be easy to find again later.

posted by The Pecan Diva @ 12:56 PM

Chocolate Pecan Pie: Healthy for you?

Go ahead eat a slice of healthy chocolate pecan pie.
The pecans in the pie has healthy benefits, since they contain only 4.5 grams of carbohydrates in 1 once. That’s about ¼ the carbohydrates found in a cup of nuts. Pecans also help to lower LDL cholesterol. High cholesterol leads to many serious health disorders, such as coronary disease and heart attacks. Pecans also contain B6 which is an essential vitamin that allows for cells in the heart to regenerate. Zinc is also found in pecans, which helps with liver disorders and sickle cell disease.

Now for the health benefits of Chocolate:
Chocolate is a wonderful snack, but one on the important benefits of chocolate is that it helps lower high blood pressure. High blood pressure can make it harder for the blood to flow through the body and to the heart which may lead to strokes or heart attacks. Flavonols which are found in chocolate can help prevent fat from clogging the arteries so that the blood keeps flowing properly. Chocolate also contains stimulants which release endorphins and serotonin into the bloodstream to give the body a “natural high”.

So enjoy a piece of Chocolate Pecan pie occasionally, and enjoy the healthy nutritional benefits with no guilt at all!

posted by The Pecan Diva @ 12:46 PM

Tips on Buying Pecans

Tips on Buying, Storing and Using Pecans

Of all the tree nuts, pecans sometimes suffer in the supermarket. They may look dried and shriveled in appearance, sometimes they do not look appealing to buyers. It is best to order directly from a respected vendor and get fresh, plump good color product with full rich flavor.


To keep pecans fresh and tasting their best, follower these buying and storage guidelines:

• When buying pecans, look for plump pecans that are uniform in color and size.
• Shelled pecans can be kept in the refrigerator for about nine months and for up to two years in the freezer.
• Pecans can be thawed and refrozen repeatedly during the two-year freezing period without loss of flavor or texture.
• Airtight containers, such as jars with lids, are best for storing pecans in the refrigerator.
• Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. It is also a good idea to double bag them.
• In-shell pecans (pecans that are still in the shell) can be stored in a cool, dry place for six to 12 months.
• After removal from cold storage, pecans will stay good for an additional two months

posted by The Pecan Diva @ 4:19 PM