Texas Pecan Recipes (Revised)

There aren’t many Texans who don’t have a special liking for pecans grown in the state, usually enjoying them straight from the shell. But now, more and more people are incorporating pecans in many different types of recipes. In this booklet we have included recipes for salads, main dishes, desserts, candies, and cookies.
The Texas pecan industry has grown significantly from the days when the nuts were gathered by the family and hauled to town to sell during the season. Today, modern storage facilities and packaging make them available year-round. And if purchasers store pecans properly, they will retain their fresh flavor and quality for very long periods.
We hope that you find new ways to use pecans in cooking and that you insist on Texas pecans when you shop.
Reagan V. Brown Commissioner of Agriculture
The pecan is the state tree, and quite properly it is named. It was a source of food for the Indians as well as the early colonists who found the trees growing on creek and river banks. With new varieties and commercial cultivation, the pecan orchards of Texas provide a steady supply of pecans during the harvesting season from October through December.
During these months, shoppers can find fresh pecans in retail outlets and can also purchase from growers themselves in many areas. Pecans are native to 152 counties in Texas and are grown commercially in the central part of the state, down on the western border, and in the Trans-Pecos.
Check with local farm organizations for names of producers of Texas pecans in your area.
When stored properly, they retain good taste and high quality.
Whether you buy a small cellophane package of shelled pecans or a five-pound bag of in-shell pecans, the best place to store them is in the freezer. Pecans can spoil quickly under warm temperatures, but will keep fresh one year at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pecans do not have to be thawed before being added to a recipe. Even if they are not part of a cooked dish, they will thaw adequately before serving. Also, portions unused can be returned to the freezer without any loss of quality. During the holiday season, keep the pecans refrigerated—even in-shell—until they are ready to be served.