Having in my life been bitten by the jaws of both victory and defeat, I must rush to add that success is to failure as butter pecan ice cream is to death.
Rupert Holmes, English composer, b. February 24, 1947

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Mine is plain old vanilla–with pecans and chocolate chips sprinkled on top.

What is your favorite brand of ice cream? Blue Bell Creameries will celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2007. Buttered Pecan and Pecan Pralines ‘n Cream flavors are sold year round. Caramel Turtle Fudge and Fudge Brownie Nut are available only at certain times of year. Right now, they’re also selling Mississippi Mud Cake and Southern Pecan Pie ice creams at my Kroger store. Eat your heart out, those of you who can’t get Blue Bell. (You can get four half-gallons of your favorite flavors shipped anywhere in the continental US via FedEx for only $89.00.)

I do like buttered pecan ice cream, and I plan to try the Mississippi Mud Cake flavor which happens to be Blue Bell’s November flavor of the month.

If you have anything to write concerning pecans —a story, a joke, a poem, a recipe, a memory, or a quotation— please post it on your blog and leave a link here at Semicolon. We’re celebrating November as the Month of the Pecan —because April just doesn’t make sense, and it’s too long to wait.

On the outskirts of town, there was a big old pecan tree by the cemetery fence. One evening two boys filled up a bucket with pecans and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.
“One for you, and one for me. One for you, one for me,” said one boy.

Several were dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate.

Sure enough, he heard, “One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.”

He just knew what it was. “Oh my,” he shuddered, “It’s Satan and the Lord dividing the souls at the cemetery.”

He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.

“Come here quick,” said the boy, “You won’t believe what I just heard. Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up souls.”

The man said. “Beat it, kid, can’t you see it’s hard for me to walk?”

When the boy insisted, the man hobbled to the cemetery. Standing by the fence they heard, “”One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.

The old man whispered, “Boy, you, you’ve been tellin’ the truth! Let’s see the devil himself.”

Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of Satan.

At last they heard, “One for you, one for me. And one last one for you. That’s all. Now let’s go get those nuts by the fence, and we’ll be done.”

They say the old guy made it back to town 5 minutes before the boy.

I’m still calling for pecan-related posts from other bloggers because here at Semicolon where November is Pecan Month. Stay with me through the month and you’ll learn how to pronounce the name of this delicious nut, where it originated, which figures from history have been fans of the pecan, how nutritious the pecan is, and much, much more than you ever wanted or needed to know about the pecan. I’m imitating Melville who had a chapter each in his epic, Moby Dick, about the head of the whale, the tail of the whale, ambergris, the skeleton of the whale, blubber, the whale’s dimensions, the whale’s spout, various substances found inside the whale, eating whale meat, and the whiteness of the whale. That’s not to mention all the chapters concerning whaling and whale ships and weapons used to kill a whale and laws related to the capture of whales.

If I have chosen a smaller, more delectable subject in the pecan, I believe I have not chosen a creation of God less worthy of study. Pecans are certainly more accessible here in Texas than whales. And they taste better in pies. And after five hundred plus pages of whaling, I’m ready for something different. So, bring on the pecans.

Did you know that there’s singing group called Golden Smog? And furthermore one of their recorded hits(?) was called Pecan Pie? The lyrics start out thus:

as I walk along and stumble
trains rumble in my head
as I breeze along and grumble
think about you instead

and a piece of pecan pie
and you that’s all I want
just a piece of pecan pie
and all I want is you

sometimes I get so hungry
think about pie all day
just a little whipped cream
honey, I’m on my way

with a piece of pecan pie
and you that’s all I want
just a piece of pecan pie
and all I want is you

It gets worse. Or as my mama would say, “Same song, second verse. Could be better but it’s gonna be worse.” If you’re a Golden Smog fan, you have my condolences, er, apology.

So, I’ll end this poor excuse for a pecan post with a picture and a plea for more pecan-related links. If you have posted anything —a story, a joke, a recipe, a poem, a quotation, a picture, even bad song lyrics— leave a link in Mr. Linky. If you’re a pecan fan, visit some of the links to find kindred spirits and more pecan songs.

Here’s a recipe for using up leftover cornbread. I like sweet cornbread,usually using a cornmuffin mix like Jiffy, but you may like yours without sugar.

1 (1 1/2 qt.) pan cooked corn bread
2 C. mayonnaise or salad dressing
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 jar chopped pimientos
3/4 C. chopped green onions
3/4 C. chopped pecans
2 large tomatoes, diced

Crumble cornbread into bowl. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Place in refrigerator to chill. (About 2 1/2 hours is best.) Yields 8 to 10 servings.

By the way, Melissa says pecans are a critical ingredient in chocolate cake.

Melissa’s Mom’s Rocky Road Sheet cake recipe

Remember: if you have posted something pecan-related on your blog, be sure and leave a link. I’ll enter you in my drawing at the end of the month, and the winner will get a pound of fresh shelled pecans and maybe an extra bonus gift.

Pecans

Art Print

Smith, Cedric


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Leave a link to your pecan post in the Mr. Linky, and you’ll be entered in my November is the Month of the Pecan contest. One of you will win a pound of fresh shelled pecans and maybe a bonus book or something pecan-related.

In the meantime, here’s a pecan quiz for all pecan lovers. NOTE: some questions have no right answer.

1. Is it PEE-can or pa-CAHN?

2. Is a shelled pecan
a. a pecan with a shell
b. a pecan without a shell

3. The pecan is the only major nut tree that grows naturally in North America. True or false?

4. Why should you store shelled pecans in the freezer?

5. What two US presidents are known to have cultivated pecan trees in their gardens?

6. Are pecans widely grown in any country other than the United States? If so, where?

7. What is the average price for a pound of shelled pecans this year? How much does a pound of pecans cost in your local grocery store?

8. What is the meaning of the Cajun phrase “gone pecan”?

9. In 1919 the legislature of which state declared the pecan tree to be the state tree? What state produces the most pecans for sale?

10. Do you thresh the pecans from the trees or thrash them?

You can answer any or all of the quiz questions in the comments or on your own blog. I’ll be answering them in upcoming pecan posts this month. Remember: if you have posted something pecan-related on your blog, be sure and leave a link. I’ll enter you in my drawing at the end of the month, and the winner will get a pound of fresh shelled pecans and maybe an extra bonus gift.

It turns out that April is National Pecan Month. Pecans fall in the fall. They are fresh in the grocery stores in October or November just in time for holiday baking. Pecan pies and fruit salad with pecans and pecan fudge are all associated with the fall and winter months. So why April? Are they trying to build up sales in a slow month? Were October and November already taken by Rhubarb and Peanuts?

Nevertheless here at Semicolon, November is the Month of the Pecan. Pecans have yet to attain worldwide fame. So in November, not waiting until April, here on this blog, we will do our part to exalt and pooularize the lowly but tasty pecan. This November celebration is more proof, in case you needed it, that I am not a hireling of the pecan industry. I’m just a an ordinary pecan-lover who’s trying to celebrate her faovrite nut in the month in which I’ve become accustomed to thinking about pecans.

If you have a recipe or a quotation or a story or a joke or a picture or anything else pecan-related to share on your blog, leave a link in the Mr. Linky, and I’ll also mention you and link to your post again in one of my daily(?) Pecan Posts.

Even better, for everyone who leaves a link to something pecan-like, I’ll put your name in the hat and draw one at the end of the month. The lucky winner will receive a pound of fresh shelled pecans and maybe I’ll even throw in a book, if I find one that is pecan-y enough.

SO, write pecans.

Laura of Lines in Pleasant Places likes pecans, too. And now, thanks to her post, if I’m ever in Alabama, I know where to go for pecans and pecan treats. She also gives a variation on my recipe for sweet potato casserole.

Close View of Shelled Pecans in Warm Light

Photographic Print

Green, Brian…


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OK, I realize it has an odd sound to it, but I believe in pecans (not the gods). Pecans are the most excellent of nuts. Pecans are supremely edible. Pecans are a good addition to almost any dessert and many salads and entrees. Pecans are King.

So, I thought to myself (to whom else would I think), if Rebecca can declare October Potato Month, I can certainly say that November is the Month of the Pecan. I don’t expect to get as much participation as Rebecca did since potatoes are ordinary, but ubitquitous and popular all over the world. Pecans have yet to attain worldwide fame. Nevertheless, here on this blog, we will do our part to exalt and pooularize the lowly but tasty pecan. If you have a recipe or a quotation or a story or a joke or a picture or anything else pecan-related to share on your blog, leave a link in the Mr. Linky, and I’ll also mention you and link to your post again in one of my daily(?) Pecan Posts.

Even better, for everyone who leaves a link to something pecan-like, I’ll put your name in the hat and draw one at the end of the month. The lucky winner will receive a pound of fresh shelled pecans and maybe I’ll even throw in a book, if I find one that is pecan-y enough. We will be making our Annual Pecan Trek this Saturday to beautiful downtown Richmond, Texas, where we go every year to buy pecans. Never fear, I’ll report here on the trip, and one of you will get to sample the pecans that we purchase.

SO, think pecans. (No, I do not work for the Pecan Growers of America, if there is such an organization. However, if there is and if they’d like to send me a few samples of whatever . . . I think we could work a deal.)