Pecans are usually really expensive and hard to find here, but I recently picked up 2 kilos at the after-christmas sales. I did that a couple of years ago too, shelled like crazy and made some excellent baked goods, and now it's time again. However, I remember the actual shelling as a horrible nuisance. Any ideas for helping it become a little easier?
I'll probably shell them all in one huge shelling frenzy, and then freeze the shelled nuts until I have a chance to use them up. (I'm eyeing some Pecan Pie Bars in the new Gourmet cookbook!) If anyone has a great pecan recipe, do send that my way! :)
8 comments:
Go to that dried fruits and nuts and stuff place in Hötorgshallen, I saw a rather large bag of pecans there for a reasonable sum. When you come down the stairs it is a little backwards, to the left. Well, now you have your pecans but for next time... And peeling? I saw a recipe where you were supposed to peel hazelnuts by roasting them in the oven and then rub the peels off in a kitchen towel. Perhabs you can try that?
Hi Clivia! That's GREAT advice, I really do need to check out more things at Hötorgshallen. (Maybe we should meet up one day?) Actually, unpeeled pecans are like totally unpeeled hazelnuts - hard. The tip for peeling hazelnuts by roasting is to get rid of the papery dark inner peel, not the actual hard shell. (And it works so-so, in my opinion.. be prepared to ruin a towel or two.)
I think there's something about soaking the pecans in cold water, I had a trick last time.. can't remember though, it was a few years ago :)
Hi Anne,mmmm pecans...you are so lucky to have them! I have seen a pecan grower on tv demonstrating how to open them. You should take a look at Per's tool box because he was using a pruning knife to cut small edges from both ends of the nut and then cracking it easily in the middle. I wish you patience , and surely the result will worth it. Tülin
Ledsen att det tog lång tid, var förbi hos en kompis ikväll som behövde inredningstips i en nyinflyttad lägenhet och det drog ut lite på tiden. Förlåt än en gång. Nu har du i alla fall tre enkla och pyssliga tips. Hoppas något av dem faller dig i smaken.
Tülin, wow, that sounds really dangerous. :) But fun! I'll give it a go!
Milgwimper - I found a picture, but I don't think I can find the actual sheller. Oh well! I'll have to make do without.
Anne,
Do you mean peel them or shell them? In all my years of eating pecans I've never eaten one that was peeled, the skins are just too thin to bother with.
Aaaah, Kevin, I see. Yeah, I mean shell them - I wouldn't bother with peeling either. Better change the wording of the post to better reflect that!!
http://www.homeandbeyond.com/prod-0154775.html This works!
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