We went on our annual pecan purchasing journey on Saturday. We always take a Saturday in early November to go to Richmond, Texas to R. B. Bagley and Sons Pecan Warehouse. There we purchase an inordinate amount of fresh pecans in the shells, cracked, which we bring home and shell and put in the freezer to make all kinds of delightful goodies for Thanksgiving and Christmas and other special days.

My motto is: “Anything good is even better with pecans.” Fudge is better with pecans in it. Brownies are better with pecans. Most cookies are better with pecans. Some cakes are great with pecans added. Salads are even better with a few chopped pecans to give them some crunch. We put pecans on top of our sweet potato casserole, and I like to add a few pecan halves to the top of a pumpkin pie to improve the looks and the taste.

Did you know?
1. The word “pecan” comes from the Algonquian Indian word “pakan” meaning “a hard-shelled nut.”
2. Pecans are native to the Americas and were a major source of food for several Indian tribes during the autumn.
3. Shelled pecans should be stored in the freezer in an airtight container. They’ll keep for about a year.
4. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both planted pecan trees in their gardens.
5. Pecans are nutritious, rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin.
6. Pecans taste a lot better than walnuts. (IMHO)
7. The word “pecan” is pronounced “puCAHN,” not “PEEcan.” (In my not-so-humble opinion)

If you like pecans and have written something pecan-related on your blog, please leave a link in the Mr. Linky. I’ll be sending some fresh pecans to one lucky contributor at the end of November.