Texas Pecan Treats

Come August, there is nowhere I'd rather NOT be than in Texas. Steamy, sultry, and hot, living in Texas in August is like trying to breathe in a tightly-covered pressure cooker.

But in November, I remember the joys of Texas. Cool breezes and balmy fall days refresh the senses and invite us outside once again. On streets and in parks, pecans are ripe for gathering and shelling.

Those of you who think pecans come in 6-ounce plastic supermarket packages have missed the true texture and flavor of a real Texas treat. Best of all are the small native pecans with shells like granite. But once you've cracked them, there are no better fall treats to be had.

With the holidays rapidly approaching, we want to share a couple of our favorite recipes using Texas pecans. Even if you're forced to use those supermarket replicas, these recipes are great!

Texas Pecan Pie

Prepare a pie shell and set aside, or use a premade pie shell.

1/3 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

3 whole eggs

one cup light corn syrup

one cup broken pecans

one tsp vanilla

¼ tsp salt

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs.

Stir in corn syrup, pecans, vanilla and salt.

Pour mixture into prepared pie shell. Spraying the pie pan with PAM or a similar no-stick spray before placing pie shell can help keep the pastry crisp.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 30-40 minutes, or until just set in center. Cool completely before serving.

Back in the eighties, I spent an unforgetable Christmas with my daughter who was, at the time, studying in Kyoto, Japan. Because of her love of pecan cookies, I made a double batch to take with me, fully aware that taking foodstuffs into Japan was not allowed. I figured I might lose the cookies, but what the heck? I might get lucky and sneak them past customs.

Arriving in Japan after a 26-hour flight, I was confronted with a Japanese customs agent who went through everything in my luggage. Nothing was too small or insignificant to escape his scrutiny. When he came to the tin of tightly packed cookies, he eyed it with a quizzical expression.

"Desu ka (what's this)?" he questioned me.

In my best schoolgirl Japanese, I explained that this was a Christmas present for my daughter, hoping that he would go on to the next item. It was not to be.

As I watched in horror, he opened the tin and was immediately enveloped by a dense cloud of powdered sugar.

"Ah," he announced. "Clismas plesant!" And beaming, he clapped the lid back on the tin and waved me through.

He was right. The holidays just wouldn't be as pleasant without these pecan gems.

Holiday Pecan Cookies

Beat until soft ½ cup butter.

Blend in two tablespoons sugar.

Add one teaspoon vanilla, one cup ground pecan meats, and one cup cake flour or regular flour sifted several times.

Roll into 32 ½ inch balls, one teaspoon full at a time.

Place on greased baking sheet. Bake in 300 degree oven for 45 minutes or 375 for 25 minutes. While cookies are still hot, roll in confectioner's sugar. Roll again after cookies cool.

Stored in air-tight tins, these cookies will keep indefinitely.

Enjoy!

About The Author

Phyllis Staff, Ph.D. - Phyllis Staff is an experimental psychologist and the CEO of The Best Is Yet.Net, an internet company that helps seniors and caregivers find trustworthy residential care. She is the author of How to Find Great Senior Housing: A Roadmap for Elders and Those Who Love Them. She is also the daughter of a victim of Alzheimer's disease. Visit her website at http://www.thebestisyet.net

pando19@yahoo.com

---

Spanish Food - The Perfect Paella

Looking for a traditional Spanish recipe? Without doubt, the best-known... Read More

Mays Featured Holidays and Recipes

There are three great days in the month of May... Read More

How to Bake Quick Bread: Apricot-Orange Nut

We love moist, fruity quick breads--and this is one of... Read More

How to Make a Tantalizing White Lightening Chili

Chili cooks always want to discover that award-winning chili recipe... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Crustless Quiche

Crust-less QuicheQuick and easy, this meal is great either hot... Read More

Chili Recipe - A Red Chili Nightmare!

This chili recipe is, indeed, a really nightmare! Taste it... Read More

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

You will need:1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mixFrostingSprinkles or... Read More

Handy Home-Prepared Mixes

Pre-packaged store-bought box mixes are expensive. Have you considered homemade... Read More

No Bake Cookies Are Easy to Make and Fun to Eat

Got an urge for a homemade cookie snack but don't... Read More

The Taffy Pull (A Story and a Recipe)

One year when I was growing up on our Wisconsin... Read More

Juniors Cheesecake

Juniors cheesecake restaurant was founded in 1950 by Harry Rosen,... Read More

Bourbon BBQ Sauce

If you are seeking a very unique flavored bbq sauce... Read More

Grandmas Peach Canning Recipe

Grandma loved to bake peach pies or top pancakes with... Read More

Ediths Cake That Thrilled the French

Twenty-three chefs who cooked for world royalty and heads of... Read More

Save Time with No-Bake Cookies

Whether you don't want to heat up the kitchen or... Read More

How to Make Beer

Making beer is easy, inexpensive, and most of all, fun.... Read More

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch (in 2 hours or less!)

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a dozen... Read More

6 Steps to Beating Childhood Obesity

These days kids would rather spend time on the computer... Read More

Ice Cream In A Baggie

Yes, it sounds dangerous and the potential for messes seems... Read More

Limes

Limes were originally grown in Asia,introduced by the Arab traders... Read More

Recipe: Chocolate Modeling Clay

Ingredients:6 oz. chocolate chips5 teaspoons corn syrup1 gallon size zip-top... Read More

Chicken Adobo

This particular recipe is Phillipian. Here are the ingredients you... Read More

School Lunches the Frugal Way!

It seems that school starts earlier every year. So it's... Read More

Parmesan Crusted Sole with Lemon Beurre Blanc

Sole/flounder is a refreshing sweet and mild flavored fish which... Read More

Swiss Cheese Fondue

Ingredients600g white bread (I recommend baguette or any other kind... Read More

How to Make a Delicious German Crumble Cake in 4 Simple Steps

In high school, learning a new recipe (especially dessert recipes)... Read More

All About Strawberry Shortcakes

Strawberry shortcake may be a 200 year-old American invention. With... Read More

Going Halfway Around the World: How to Make German Cookies

I absolutely loved experimenting with foreign recipes, especially dessert recipes,... Read More

Straight Talk from a Comfort Foodie - Moms Remedy for the Blues

As puberty crept up and I became a passive passenger... Read More

How to Bake: Easy Sourdough Bread

A customer emailed us and said that her mother loved... Read More

Making Whoopie!

Whoopie Pies that is! Other known as "Moon Cakes"Wicked WhoopiesAmy... Read More

Grilling Recipes Give People Tasteful Tremors Just Thinking of BBQ Grilling!

Grilling recipes give people tremors just thinking of the explosive... Read More

Straight Talk from a Comfort Foodie: Strudel Makes the Woman

Strudel Makes the WomanGrandpa Max loved butter cookies. He liked... Read More