Pecan Store July 16th, 2010
Did you know the Pecan Store has a mascot? Well he’s not really a mascot; he’s more of a suave, pecan shelling Casanova who represents the Pecan Store to the masses. The women love his cute little face, children want to be like him and men want to be his friend. He had his official coming out party at the Inaugural Sahuarita Pecan Festival in December 2009 and he is a constant presence at the Store. Meet Don Julio. He wanted to share some pictures of his shenanigans and we’ll make sure to post more in the future.
Celebrating a successful holiday season!
Working the holiday telephone orders.
He's not afraid to get his hands...or tail dirty.
With some of the Pecan Store staff.
Charming some lovely Red Hats.
Pecan Store July 14th, 2010
Call it a Christmas in July gift, but whatever you choose to call it make sure you take advantage of it. The Pecan Store is offering 15% off all summer selection tins. If it comes in a tin and doesn’t melt, we’ll ship it to you for 15% off. To take advantage, use promotional code SUMMERTIN at pecanstore.com. If I were allowed to take advantage of the promotion, I would select the D307 Summer gift tin; its combination of pretty packaging and tasty pecans are sure to be a hit! So while you can’t indulge in our delicious Camelbacks and English Toffee until the fall, you can enjoy our Butter Toffee, Praline and Roasted & Salted Pecans to your heart’s content!
Pecan Store June 17th, 2010
I don’t know about you, but during the Arizona summer I try not to leave my house during the day if I can control it. It’s just too hot! We at the Pecan Store understand this, so until June 3oth PecanStore.com customers can receive half off standard shipping by using promotion code SUMMERHT. Now you can satisfy your praline or honey toasted pecan addiction all without leaving your house! So don’t delay; place your PecanStore.com order today!
Pecan Store June 11th, 2010
Did you know The Pecan Store sells organic pecans? Well we do! The Green Valley Pecan Company has the largest organic pecan farm in the country, with over 900 acres certified organic by Oregon Tilth. One pound pecan halves and pieces are available in the store and online (though not always at the same time), and you can’t beat their buttery, nutty taste. Plus, scientific research at Loma Linda University shows the addition of pecans to the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Step 1 diet lowered LDL (bad cholesterol) levels more than twice as much as the AHA Step 1 diet alone. That’s because pecans contain 25% more cholesterol-lowering oleic acid than a tablespoon of olive oil.
Here’s an interesting fact: it takes three years to transition an acre of pecan trees from conventional farming practices to organic. Therefore the farm uses careful planning to insure the pecans we grow in our organic farms are of the most superior quality. So if you prescribe to an organic diet, order your organic pecans today!
Pecan Store May 21st, 2010
TGIF! I hope you all have great weekend plans to look forward to. My weekend will be full of errand running, but I have every intention of allowing myself some downtime. Since the days have become hot, I have made it a point to wake up early on Saturday mornings to enjoy the cooler temperatures. I am a big coffee fan; seriously, I think about my first cup as soon as I wake up. I’ve become a big fan of the Butter Pecan Arbuckles’ coffee that the Pecan Store sells, so I usually make it a part of my morning routine. My early mornings on the patio consist of my laptop so I can read the news, a steaming cup of hot java and an easy breakfast. Sometimes I have a wheat bagel, sometimes I have cereal. But lately I have been enjoying the new Buttermilk Scones the Pecan Store has just debuted. They are from the Adobe Ross Inn, located in Tucson, and the scones are divine! The mix is simple as all it requires is six tablespoons of cold butter and warm water. If you baked the scones as is, you’re only consuming 99 calories a serving! However, the great thing about the mix is that it comes with ideas of other items you can add to take your scones over the top! My favorite combination is blueberries and pecans; it’s amazing! Plus, you can pair the scones with a tasty Raspberry Pecan or Blackberry Pecan preserve from the Pecan Store or spread on some Pecan Honey Butter for an extra hint of sweetness. Now doesn’t that sound like the perfect way to welcome the day?
Pecan Store May 19th, 2010
Memorial Day weekend festivities are right around the corner but are you ready? Here is an easy checklist you can use to make sure your celebrations are a success:
- 1. Check your grill’s propane tank to insure it’s full or buy a sufficient amount of charcoal. The Pecan Store sells pecan shell charcoal for $2.50/5lb bag, and can be purchased in store only.
- 2. Plan out your menu ahead of time. Don’t even attempt to do this at the last minute with whatever items are in your pantry or freezer. Grilled meats taste best when they’ve been marinated and The Pecan Store carries Arizona Rub in four flavors: Original, Chipotle, Rattlesnake and Pistol Whip. These delicious rubs would be perfect on a variety of different meats! And to accompany your perfectly seasoned meat, don’t overlook the barbeque sauce. The Pecan Store also sells Green Valley Pecan Company barbeque sauce and hot sauce that include pecans. They would be a tangy, savory addition to your grilling menu.
- 3. Drinks, drinks and more drinks! Especially in our hot desert weather, insuring your party guests are adequately hydrated is important. Put out some aluminum party tubs or ice chests and fill them with all the necessary beverages that make a party great. But most importantly, make sure everything is iced before your guests arrive because who wants to drink a warm beer? Also, set up a Do It Yourself Drink Bar so your guests can pour their own concoctions. Make sure you included Prickly Pear margaritas, which are made with Prickly Pear Syrup from Cheri’s Desert Harvest. You can purchase a bottle, which comes with a complimentary recipe, at the Pecan Store website or in the Store.
- 4. Decorations can make any backyard gathering into an over the top production, so don’t be shy about spreading the party theme around the occasion. However, just because you want to be festive doesn’t mean you have to spend an arm and a leg to fund it. Instead of star spangled cups, plates and napkins, opt for the more affordable solid red, white and blue cups and plates and mix and match them to your heart’s content. Delicious fruit salads containing blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and pecans combined with whipped cream would make an attractive trifle centerpiece. Another great idea would be wrap pecan trays from the Pecan Store in red, white and blue ribbons. They would do double duty as attractive centerpieces and gifts for your guests. You’re only limited by your imagination!
While you pull all the elements of your bash together, don’t forget about the music! Music is a key element to setting the mood at any great party, so have your IPod ready to crank out jams that will get your party guests out of their seats and grooving to the rhythm. Play a mix of various music genres to appeal to as many party guests as possible, and keep in mind that Memorial Day weekend, July 4th and Labor Day weekend are the only acceptable times to play “American Pie” by Don McLean more than once, which may still be pushing it for some! Have fun and be safe!
Pecan Store May 10th, 2010
Summer may technically be more than a month away, but today it feels warm and toasty. When it gets hot outside, I like to surround myself with cool things; sun tea, fresh salad and sorbet! So while my mind turns to these things, I want to share my favorite warm weather recipe featuring pecans. It partners perfectly with a glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc!
Baby Spinach Salad with Roasted Red Onions, Pecans, Dried Cranberries, Crumbled Goat Cheese and Citrus Dressing
Courtesy: The Food Network
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 medium red onion
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Citrus Dressing, recipe follows
- 8 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
- 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Slice the onion into thin wedges, through the root end. Toss with the olive oil, season with salt, to taste, and spread out on a baking sheet. Roast until just soft and brown, about 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Put the spinach and onions in a large bowl. Drizzle with some of the dressing and toss. Add more dressing as needed; spinach should just be lightly coated. Divide salad among 4 chilled plates. Top with pecans, goat cheese, and dried cranberries. Serve immediately.
Citrus Dressing
Yield: about 1/2 cup
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Whisk the lemon zest, lemon juice, orange juice, Dijon, honey, thyme, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined. Gradually whisk in the oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream, to make a smooth, slightly thick dressing.
Enjoy!
Pecan Store May 7th, 2010
I can’t believe we’re wrapping up the first week of May; we’re almost half way through the year! Despite the fact that it’s still more than six months away, the Sahuarita Pecan Festival committee has been actively working to insure this year’s Festival is a big success! We learned a lot from last year’s festival and are incorporating new ideas and activities to make this year’s event even better! The goals for the 2010 event are to highlight the history, culture and products of the Santa Cruz Valley (especially our tasty pecans!), offer an affordable, family friendly event for our neighbors in Southern Arizona and to give back to the community by providing local non-profit organizations an opportunity to promote themselves and fundraise.
The festival committee has plans to expand the children’s area to include more games and activities, and the food area will be larger and offer a great assortment of pecan related items. There will also be a community-wide pecan recipe contest, as well as a healthy pecan recipe cooking contest with the culinary program students at Sahuarita High School. And you can bet the Pecan Store will have great deals to take advantage of, and just in time for the holidays! So save the date now: November 20th and 21st on the Farm. Two days means more nutty fun to be had! Visit www.sahuaritapecanfestival.com for more information.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Pecan Store May 5th, 2010
Having been a resident of the great state of Arizona for most of my life, I’ve become quite adept at handling the intense summer heat. I like to joke that while the rest of the country hibernates, Arizonans play; when the rest of the country plays, Arizonans hibernate. It’s stifling hot! As a result of the heat, the Pecan Store does not ship chocolate or other heat sensitive items from the months of May through August (sometimes even September is too hot!). So I would encourage all you camelback and English Toffee addicts to stock up for the summer because the Pecan Store will cease chocolate shipments after May 9th! And to further entice you to place an order, the Pecan Store is offering 10% off all online orders when you use promotional code LSTCHANCE by May 9th. Doesn’t that sound like a great way to hibernate through the summer?!
Pecan Store April 23rd, 2010
The pecan is a time honored nut that deserves much celebration. These tasty little pecans are only native to North America and grow in and around lakes and river valleys. The Pecan can be dated as far back as the 16th century according to www.ilovepecans.org
Come and Celebrate National Pecan month by sharing the best recipes you can find. Don’t forget to stop by the Pecan Store and pick up the best tasting nuts in the world.
