Pecans

After the Christmas holidays, a friend gave me a large bag of pecans as a gift.  What a surprise when I opened that bag....shelled pecans.....not pecans cracked needing to be removed from the shells but shelled pecans....lots of shelled pecans!

 I also had recently received a couple of new recipes from a different friend that used pecans. Perfect timing. Both of the recipes were winners in this household.

The first recipe is a quick, easy, requires a few ingredients and makes a great snack. They would also be great to toss into a salad.

Maple Glazed Pecans (adapted from Pillsbury recipe)

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 cups pecan halves

1. In a small skillet melt butter. Add brown sugar and maple syrup and cook until bubbly.

2. Add pecans and cook 2 or 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

3. Spread onto a greased sheet and bake 6 to 8 minutes at 350. Pecans should be golden brown.

4. Cool and store in air tight container.

The name of this next recipe is a misnomer. Georgia Cornbread - does NOT contain cornmeal, and is NOT a bread. It is a moist snacking cake that can be quickly made for potlucks, tailgating or a last minute dessert.

Georgia Cornbread

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

4 eggs, beaten

1 cup oil

1 ½ cups self rising flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups pecans, chopped very fine

1. Stir together sugar, brown sugar, eggs and oil. Stir together until blended.

2. Add flour and vanilla and stir until well blended.

3. Add pecans and stir.

4. Pour into a greased 9X13 greased pan and bake at 400° for 30 to 35 minutes or until the middle does not shake when you move the pan.

5. Cool before slicing.

Enjoy...

A Glimpse of Christmas

 

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without cookies.

 

Sand Dabs

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ¼ cups flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup pecans, chopped

1.Cream butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.
2.Whisk together flour and salt and add gradually to butter mixture.
3.Stir in pecans.
4.Chill if dough is too soft.
5.Form into small balls and place on ungreased baking sheets.
6.Bake at 400º for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly brown.
7.Cool slightly and roll in powdered sugar.

 Snickerdoodles (adapted from Taste of Home)

½ cup butter, softened

1 cup plus 2 tablespoon sugar, divided

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla

1 ½ cups flour

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1.Beat butter and 1 cup of sugar until fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.
2.Combine flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Gradually add to butter mixture.
3.In small bowl combine cinnamon and remaining sugar.
4.Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in cinnamon sugar.
5.Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375° for 10 to 12 minutes.

Orange Cookies (adapted from Your HomeBased Mom)

2 cups flour

¼ teaspoon baking soda

1 ½ sticks butter

1 ¼ cups sugar

2 tablespoons grated orange zest

1 egg

1 teaspoon orange extract

Icing:

2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice.

1 ½ cup powdered sugar

1.Beat butter, sugar and 1 tablespoon orange zest until fluffy.
2.Add egg and extract. Mix until combined.
3.Add flour and baking soda until combined.
4.Spoon onto a ungreased cookie sheet.
5.Bake 350° about 15 minutes or lightly golden brown.
6.Once cooled, mix powdered sugar, juice and remaining orange zest together. Spread on cookies.

Enjoy...

Most Wonderful Time of The Year

This has been a wonderful Christmas for me and my family. 

Nothing says Christmas more than spending time with family and friends,

and traveling to Philadelphia to spend Christmas with our favorite doctors. 

Unlike last year, there wasn't twelve inches of snow. No snow at all. In fact the weather was wonderful.

We attended the performance of Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, visited the Longwood Gardens to see the Christmas lights, prepared and consumed some wonderful and amazing meals,

and ate way too much of the Christmas goodies like these babies....

Lemon Truffles
2 cups white vanilla chips
10 oz lemon curd
3 cups crushed vanilla wafers
1 cup powdered sugar
Optional: chopped pecans and toasted coconut

1. In  a microwave, melt vanilla chips until smooth. Stir in lemon curd, vanilla wafer crumbs, and powdered sugar. Chill until firm enough to handle.
2. Roll into 1/2 inch balls. Roll either in chopped pecans or toasted coconut. Chill until firm.

It was indeed a wonderful, wonderful time. Thank you, Lord for all these blessings!

Enjoy...

Loving This Thing Called Spring Break

Spring break finally arrived and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Started the week off by watching our nephew play a Little League baseball game,

and all the other activities taking place at the baseball park.

Took a road trip 

 to attended a wedding in small town USA.

Attended USC baseball game....The National Champions played #1 Vanderbilt.

And won the series - Go Gamecocks! YES!

Cleaned up the flower beds and planted some new flowers. 

Had my car fixed after a limb decided to make a visit to the top of my hood one night last week. UGH!!!

And, of course, did some baking.

 Coconut Pecan Cake 

1 box White cake mix

1 (3 oz). box vanilla instant pudding

1 1/3 cup water

4 eggs

¼ cup oil

1 ½ cup shredded coconut

1 cup pecans, chopped

Frosting:

1/3 cup butter, room temperature

6 oz cream cheese, room temperature

1 box powdered sugar

4 teaspoons milk

½ teaspoon vanilla

1 cup toasted coconut

1.To the cake mix, add all ingredients except the coconut and pecans. Mix completely.

2.Stir in coconut and pecans.

3.Pour into greased tube pan and bake 350⁰ for 60 minutes or until done.

4.To make frosting, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.

5.Add powdered sugar, milk  and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

6.Spread on cake and top with toasted coconut.

 

 

Enjoy...