I would like to tell you today is April 14 National Pecan Day #NationalPecanDay and I don’t know about you but I love Pecans and don’t mind celebrating them. The only problem is deciding what to make with Pecans or just eat them plain as a snack which I do a lot of the time. David said Brownie with Pecans sounds good. Charlie said we should make Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecans in his Homeschool Cooking Class and I think we should make Turtles or Pralines. What do you think we should create and why? Would you like to help us?
National Pecan Day, allows us to celebrate the Pecan a uniquely American nut whose fan base counts the likes of founding fathers including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Whether the Pecan is a garnish on a Salad or a stand-alone snack, caramelized or roasted, sweet or savory we all know Pecans never fail to deliver on taste and the ultimate nutrient density. Did you know, America is credited for 75% of the world’s total Pecan production? National Pecan Day #NationalPecanDay was established by the National Pecan Shellers Association in 1966 to recognize and honor the workforce behind the cultivation of Pecans in America.
National Pecan Day, allows America to celebrate the only nut native to its land. Pecans are a much-celebrated nut of America, and Pecans are used in deserts, Ice Creams, and snacks and so much more.
Centuries before European colonization, Pecans were cultivated, processed, and consumed in America by Native people. The word ‘Pecan’ is derived from the word ‘Pacane,’ used by the Algonquin tribe to describe a nut that needs a stone to crack open. The tribes valued Pecans for its nutrition density, availability, ease of consumption, and fulfilling taste.
In the late 17th Century, the native nut Pecan caught the eye of Spanish colonists, who began cultivating large Pecan Orchards in the vicinity. But it wasn’t until the 18th Century that the commercialization of Pecans picked up the pace in the United States. By 1802, formal selling routes were established, and Pecan export had commenced.
In 1882, a hybrid Fruit via the budding of Pecan and an adjacent wild plant was created by Abner Landrum, a cultivator from South Carolina. This resultant Nut was considered to be an upgraded version of Pecan. Although the hybrid seeds of Abner got lost in time, in 1876, the process of grafting was recreated by Antoine, a slave from Louisiana. Antoine presented his discovery at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1976 and thus began farming a new and improved variety of Pecans throughout the Country.
Today, America is responsible for three quarters of Pecan production in the world. From the Summer lanes of Texas to the sunny pavements of California, Pecan cultivation is a year-long endeavor for thousands of American farmworkers.
In 1996, the National Pecan Shellers Association members came together to establish April 14 as National Pecan Day. The objective of National Pecan Day #NationalPecanDay is to celebrate the earthly wonders of this Nut and to uplift the hardworking members of the industry who make the sustainable farming of Pecans possible.
NATIONAL PECAN DAY ACTIVITIES
- Today is the day we should indulge in the versatile offering of this great American Nut by planning your menu around Pecans.
- For National Pecan Day, host a bakeoff with your friends and family featuring our beloved Pecans.
FACTS ABOUT PECANS
- Pecans are home to 19 different vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium.
- Pecan Oil, processed from Pecans, is recommended for those with a risk of heart disease.
- A Pecan tree grows to over 150 feet tall and lives for over 300 years.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL PECAN DAY
- The sweet and crunchy texture of a Pecan brings the taste of any dish it touches our including candies, cookies, bread, pie, salads, or ice cream.
- Cashew came to America from Brazil and the California Almonds are actually a gift of Spain, Pecan is the singular Nut native to America and Pecans were widely consumed by native Americans before European colonization.
Recipe for Pecan Pie
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 50 mins
Total Time: 1 hr
Servings: 8
Yield:: 1 (9-inch) pie
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups white sugar
- ¼ cup dark corn syrup
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups chopped pecans
- 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, water, and cornstarch in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a full boil; remove from heat.
- Beat eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer until frothy. Gradually beat in cooked syrup mixture. Stir in salt, vanilla, and pecans
- Pour pecan mixture into pie shell.
- Bake in the preheated oven until filling is set, 45 to 50 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
