|
|
|
 |
|
Nuts for Nuts
With their peak harvest season just come to
a close, now is a perfect time to indulge in
the rich flavors of Georgia pecans. And not
only are they a treat to taste, pecans offer
a smorgasbord of health benefits as well.
They provide essential nutrients such as
oleic acid, thiamin, magnesium, protein and
fiber, and help lower cholesterol levels as
well as the risk of colon cancer and heart
disease.
Georgia is the nation’s greatest pecan
producer, making enough pecans each year for
over 175 million pecan pies. But pie’s not
the only thing you can make with pecans.
Check out these delicious recipes from the
Georgia Pecan Commission.
|
|
|
Pear Pecan Muffins |
|
Makes 1 dozen
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups chopped fresh ripe pear, unpeeled
1/3 cup coarsely chopped toasted Georgia
pecans
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon sugar
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt
and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Stir to
combine. Add pear and pecans and toss to
coat. Make a well in the center. In a glass
measuring cup whisk together milk, oil and
egg. Add to flour mixture, stirring just
until moist.
Divide batter among 12
lightly greased muffin cups (or you may line
them with muffin papers). Sprinkle with
sugar. Bake 20 minutes, or until a wooden
pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Remove muffins from pans at once. Let cool
on a wire rack.
Packaging tip: Place muffins in a pretty box
lined with parchment paper.
|
|
Spinach
Strawberry Salad |
|
1 16-ounce bag
Fresh Express spinach leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill or 1
teaspoon dried dill
4 teaspoons toasted* sesame seeds
2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled
and sliced in half
if large
Dressing:
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup, plus 2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup safflower oil
3/4 cup chopped Georgia pecans
Place spinach leaves in large salad
bowl. Sprinkle with fresh dill,
toasted sesame seeds and
strawberries. (This can be done up
to a couple of hours ahead of
serving. Cover with plastic wrap and
place in the refrigerator.)
Combine red wine vinegar and sugar
in a medium mixing bowl and whisk
until the sugar dissolves. Whisk in
onion powder, garlic powder and salt
until combined and then whisk in
oil. Fold in Georgia pecans.
To serve, pour the dressing over the
salad and toss to combine.
*Toast sesame seeds in a clean, dry
heavy skillet over low heat. Stir
constantly until seeds just begin to
darken.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broccoli, Sweet Onion and Georgia Pecan
Salad |
|
1 large bunch
broccoli, tough stem ends removed
1/2 cup Georgia pecan halves
Dressing:
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or rice
vinegar
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable or light olive oil
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/2 cup Vidalia or other sweet onion cut
into
thin slices
1/4 cup red bell pepper matchsticks (thin
strips cut
the length of matchsticks)
1/4 cup raisins
Separate broccoli into
florets. Slice tender stalks into thin
crosswise coins. Bring a 2-quart saucepan
half-full of lightly salted water to a boil.
Toss in florets and coins and blanch for 30
seconds, then drain quickly and immerse
broccoli in a bowl of ice water. Drain again
and chill. Meanwhile, spread pecan halves on
a baking sheet and toast at 350°F for 5 to 7
minutes.
For the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk
together sugar and vinegar. Stir in soy
sauce, garlic and pepper. Whisk in oil and
mayonnaise until smooth. Set aside. In a
glass serving bowl, combine reserved
broccoli, onion slices, pepper matchsticks
and raisins. Remove pecans from oven and
break in half lengthwise. Just before
serving, pour dressing over broccoli mixture
and toss to coat ingredients well. Scatter
toasted pecans on top.
For more information and recipes, visit the
Georgia Pecan Commission’s website at
www.georgiapecans.org |
|
/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
