Any good Southern Hostess has a dish of Toasted Pecans ready at a moment’s notice to serve to drop in company or the finest occasions… In fact it is difficult to imagine any festive occasion all year round when Pecans aren’t welcome! Especially welcome during the Holidays!
Native to the American South, named by Native Americans, grown at Monticello by Thomas Jefferson- who helped his colleague George Washington, get his own pecan grove started at Mount Vernon…why, it’s your patriotic duty to appreciate Pecans!
Pecans and Sugar are a natural combination- everyone who’s ever tasted a Southern Pecan Pie knows this to be a fact. Yet, it might surprise you to learn that well before the Revolutionary War, before New Orleans was even part of our country, they were making Pralines! Let me stop right here… please pronounce Pralines.. Praw-leenes and even more important- don’t say Pee Can- it’s an insult to this magnificent Native Nut! Pronounce it Pah- cahn, please- Thank y’all.
Now, while pecans are grown extensively – the best and thinnest skinned Pecans are grown in the Coastal Southern States. In fact a very memorable vacation side trip may be taken along Scenic I-95 in lower Alabama- grove upon grove with very large growth trees are beautiful and there is a Pecan Factory – through glass windows you can witness the shelling and packaging by hairnet wearing workers- Big Boards with mounted pecans show the extensive hybrids grown in the region…okay, well I enjoyed it!
Anyway…what you may not know is that nut for nut- Pecans are extremely nutritious… those who have a stash of pecans…could be said to be Healthy Wealthy and Wise. Good for the skin, rich in minerals, antioxidants and fiber- even sweeter than any other tree grown nut- Pecans without sugar are a wonderful addition to any diet.Still. Around the holidays we do love our Pecans – toasted, sugared, baked, candied…it’s just not the Holidays without them! Pecans take well to sweet or savory Southern flavors- Sugar, Bourbon, even crushed in breading for Fresh Fish and naturally Citrus.
As an addition to Holiday Gatherings- these Holiday Orange Pecans can be made in less than an hour- packaged for Holiday Gifts, Hostess Gifts and even kept in the Freezer for…oh I don’t know…maybe New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day or Birthdays and Anniversaries.
One of the oldest recipes I have for Pecan Pralines has Orange Flavoring – these Holiday Orange Pecans have a Praline Coating that is easy to make and even easier to Eat! Here’s how you make them:
Camellia’s Holiday Orange Pecans
- 3 cups of Pecan Halves
- 2 cups of sugar
- 2/3 cups milk or half and half
- 2 Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
- 2 Tablespoons of Salted Butter
- Zest of one Large Orange
- 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
Toast pecan halves in single layer on a large sheet pan in a 250 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes until they take on an even darker shade of brown- be careful- do not burn! In a large heavy bottomed Saucepan, cook sugar, milk and corn syrup to soft ball stage (234-238 on a candy thermometer). Remove from heat and add Salted Butter (if using unsalted- add a pinch or two of salt) , Orange Zest and Pure Vanilla Extract. Beat until creamy and thick. 
Stir in Pecans and coat thoroughly. Pour out on a parchment lined sheet pan- separating into single layer or separating each pecan. (If desired, more orange zest can be sprinkled on top of pecans before they harden) Allow to cool. Store in airtight containers. Freezes well.
Now, the truth is- Holiday Orange Pecans are easy to make, but they aren’t inexpensive or low calorie. Still. I think you’ll find the rich flavor goes a long way. They’re well worth less than an hour of precious holiday time to make! If you prefer, you may leave out the Orange Zest, increase Vanilla and have the classic Praline Pecans. Wonderful on their own, delicious alongside a piece of Pound Cake, as a Topping for Fruit Salads, Ambrosia or even Ice Cream! Packaged in small tins or beribboned clear cellophane bags to be given as a gift? I do believe you will be most popular this Holiday Season!
Love y’all, Camellia
*all photographs are obviously mine.
*The lyrics of this beloved Children’s Christmas Carol have an obscure history. Long thought to have been written by Martin Luther for his children in the late 1400’s- with variations of the first two stanzas being referred to most often in the late 1800’s. Since that time researchers haven’t found anything like it in Luther’s Writings and could have originated with the Lutheran Church instead- it remains a mystery to this day. Apparently, numerous publications recorded the prose in the late 1800’s right here in America. The composers of the melody have not been fully established, but all agree ‘Away in a Manger’ is thoroughly American.
I have lots of recipes scribbled on lined paper- I’m never sure where I found these recipes or why I’ve kept them… I ran across this one called -Gingerbread Crumb Cake. To be honest it isn’t as dark as a true gingerbread. Still. It does have warm gingerbread spices- as it bakes, the scents wafting through the house bring holiday cheer. This Crumb Cake is a standout for the holidays. It doesn’t hurt that it’s easy to make, keeps well and best of all is great for drop in company or gift giving. Gingerbread Crumb Cake really doesn’t call for extra special ingredients, so you can whip one up when the notion strikes!
True Gingerbread has been around a long time… Crumb Cakes are more recent- I call them mid-century recipes, yet most likely Crumb Cakes were made long before the World Wars made it necessary to ration Butter, and Butter this Gingerbread Crumb Cake does require- no substitutes will do! For Breakfast or Brunch or even as a simple Dessert, it may look humble though the flavor and aroma distinctly says- Winter Holidays . The distinction of the Spice Mixture for Gingerbread Crumb Cake is the surprise pinch of Black Pepper along with traditional Gingerbread Spices. The method is also distinct- a Buttery Crumb Mixture is sprinkled on the Bottom of the baking dish, the batter is spread over it; then the remaining generous crumb topping covers the top of this small cake; making for an especially good Coffee Cake. It bakes in less than an hour, with very little clean up. 
In the South, Storytellin’ is an acceptable art form…for some unknown reason Southern Folks who are Artists of any kind are reluctant to say-
Patti Callahan Henry is the relative newcomer to the bunch, but she’s already something else, as we say. She’s a New York Times Bestselling Author who does speaking engagements on the Importance of Storytelling. This little book- is a Holiday Story, a tender love story, called The Perfect Love Song– It’s about thinking you’ve finally gotten everything only to find out,..well I’ll let you read it for yourself. She spins quite a tale- unexpected but really not, if you’ve had your dreams for the big time and you happen to be from the South. Patti Callahan Henry has lived in a part of Alabama I know quite well- yet her range of understanding Southern Folks from different backgrounds makes me believe she knows something about Storytellin’ and I like it.
A Snow Day. Time to pause amid other ordinary days or like this Snow Day among extraordinarily busy holidays!
Camellia's Cottage 