Tag Archives: pecan

Chocolate Pecan Tassie Galette

The Giveaway is now closed. I’m reviewing a new cookbook, When Pies Fly, and I’m also having a giveaway for two copies—2 winners will each receive a copy! Continue reading below for details on how to enter the giveaway!

I’ve mentioned before that I don’t make pies often (especially with homemade crust) but I do want to get better at it! Which is why I was happy to review a new cookbook called When Pies Fly: Handmade Pastries from Strudels to Stromboli, Empanadas to Knishes by food writer Cathy Barrow. It’s a book for both novice and experienced pie-makers, with sweet and savory recipes ranging from free-form galettes to pretty tarts, hand pies, and more.

This is a book that can come in handy at the holidays, when more people probably make pies and other special treats than at any other time of the year. After all, what would Thanksgiving be without pumpkin, pecan, or apple pie, right? But this book helps you create a fresh take on classic favorites. Discover Chocolate Pecan Tassie Galette…Pear, Sweet Potato, and Pistachio Strudel…savory Thanksgiving-in-a-Bite Pie Poppers…Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings...savory Spinach, Cranberry, Pecan, and Blue Cheese Hand Pies. Continue reading →

Apple Pear Pecan Salad

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It’s always fun trying out different ways to make salads–it makes salad-eating a little more interesting! In the summer months, I like adding strawberries and blueberries to my salads. So I thought I’d try making a more “wintry” salad with apples and pears, inspired by this recipe. There’s also creamy crumbles of feta cheese mixed in, along with some healthy pecans that give this salad a nice flavor and crunch! I learned recently that pecans are rich in antioxidants and contain heart-healthy mono and ployunsaturated fats. They’re also rich in fiber–a handful of pecans contain the same amount of fiber as a medium-sized apple! I had received a complimentary sample of Bergeron Pecans through the National Pecan Shellers Association, and they were a perfect addition to this salad!

APPLE PEAR PECAN SALAD by NancyCreative, adapted from Kraft Foods

Makes 6-8 servings

8 cups of packaged salad mix (about a 5.5-ounce package) or coarsely chopped romaine lettuce

2/3 cup dried cranberries, divided

1 medium or large apple, unpeeled and coarsely chopped

1 medium or large pear, unpeeled and coarsely chopped

1 (4-ounce) package crumbled feta cheese, divided

1 cup pecan halves or coarsely chopped pecans, toasted or untoasted, divided (I used Bergeron Pecans)

1 bottle of your favorite Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing (regular or lite)

In a large salad bowl, toss together the lettuce, half of the dried cranberries (1/3 cup), and all of the chopped apple and pear. Then add in half of the crumbled feta cheese and half of the pecans (1/2 cup) and toss all ingredients together. Sprinkle the remaining dried cranberries, pecans, and feta cheese on top. Serve on individual plates and drizzle each serving with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing.

Toasting Pecans: For more crunchiness and flavor, you can toast your pecans in the oven by spreading in a single layer in a shallow baking pan; bake at 350˚ for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. To toast pecans on the stove top, place them in an ungreased skillet and cook on medium heat until golden brown, stirring frequently. To toast pecans in the microwave, place up to 1 cup pecans in a microwaveable shallow dish; microwave on high until crisp, stirring every 30 seconds.

This salad is great with a meal–a larger serving of it can even be a meal in itself! What types of recipes do you like to use pecans in?

Linked to Tidy Mom–I’m Loving It.

Over The Top German Chocolate Brownies

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over the top german choc brownies @ nancyc

When I was on vacation almost a month ago, I went to a bakery that had lots of delicious-looking cakes, cookies, pies, homemade breads, and more. It was really hard to decide what to buy. I bought a few things, but decided not to buy the German Chocolate Brownies–I would have had to buy a whole pan and if I did that, I’m sure I would have eaten them all! So I just made a note to myself to try making my own German Chocolate Brownies when I got home.

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Cranberry-Pecan Oatmeal

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I’m making a New Year’s Resolution to eat more oatmeal and get my cholesterol down! So I’m trying to make plain old oatmeal a little more exciting…and I came up with this Cranberry-Pecan Oatmeal recipe. I used old-fashioned oats, but you could use quick oats or instant oatmeal…whatever you like making best (just adjust the cooking time for the quick or instant oats, which will be less). This recipe is for one serving, so you’ll need to increase the amounts for the number of servings you want. I’m including directions for both stove top and microwave cooking.

CRANBERRY-PECAN OATMEAL by NancyCreative

Makes 1 serving

3/4 cup oats (I used Quaker Oats® Old Fashioned Oats)
1 1/2 cups water or milk
Dash of salt (optional)
2 Tablespoons dried cranberries, plus an additional 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon for garnish
1 Tablespoon coarsely chopped pecans, plus an additional 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon for garnish (you could also substitute walnuts for the pecans)
1/2-1 Tablespoon honey (to drizzle over oatmeal)
additional milk to serve with oatmeal, if desired

STOVE TOP DIRECTIONS: Put water or milk in a pot, add a dash of salt, and bring to a boil. Stir in oats and cook about 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally (I used old-fashioned oats, so if you’re using quick or instant oats, see directions on your container or package of oats). Remove pot from heat and stir 2 Tablespoons of dried cranberries into the hot oatmeal–they’ll plump as you stir them in–and then stir in 1 Tablespoon of chopped pecans. Spoon oatmeal into a serving bowl and add a little milk if desired. Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon each of dried cranberries and chopped pecans over oatmeal for garnish, and drizzle 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon honey over everything as a finishing touch!

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: Combine water or milk, salt, and oats in a medium-size microwave bowl; microwave on High for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes for old-fashioned oats; see package directions for quick or instant oatmeal. Stir 2 Tablespoons of dried cranberries into the hot oatmeal–they’ll plump as you stir them in–and then stir in 1 Tablespoon of chopped pecans. Spoon oatmeal into a serving bowl and add a little milk if desired. Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon each of dried cranberries and chopped pecans for garnish, and drizzle 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon honey over your oatmeal.

Now you’re ready to enjoy this healthy, yummy breakfast! 🙂