For tasty treats, think pecans

For many, the holidays are not complete without desserts or dishes baked or cooked with pecans. Many of our traditional desserts for this time of year, like pecan pie or pralines, feature these tasty, nutritious nuts. We find pecans in so many holiday dishes partly because they are in season, which makes them an economical addition, and partly because so many people like them.

Pecans make a great addition to our holiday treats because they are a good source of protein. Pecans also pack important vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron, phosphorous and thiamin. They are also a source of fiber. Pecans do contain fat but no more than most nuts.

Pecans in the shell are the most economical. When purchasing them in the shell, choose nuts that are clean, and free of holes, stains, splits or cracks. They should feel heavy for their size.

If you are purchasing pecans already shelled, decide whether you need halves or pieces for your recipe. Choose nuts with plumpness and that are fairly uniform in color. A golden brown color will give you the best pecan. Before you use shelled nuts, you will want to check them for bits of shell or bad spots.

Unshelled pecans will hold their freshness in the freezer up to two years, however, shelling before storage will reduce bulk almost by half. Shelled or unshelled pecans can be kept in the refrigerator in airtight containers for up to nine months. Unshelled pecans resist insects and aging much longer than shelled nuts.

While I am not a huge fan of pecans, my husband is. So, when he found out I was focusing on pecan recipes for this article, he was excited (he makes the sacrifice as one of my taste testers for all the recipes used). These recipes are easy to follow, make great desserts to bring with you to a holiday get-together and can be made ahead of time for when you need to grab something and go.

If you would like to learn ways to make your favorite holiday dishes a little healthier without sacrificing the taste or how to protect your waistline at the buffet line, contact the Garland County Extension Service at 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook @ garlandcountyextension.

Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Science agent with the Garland County Extension Service.