In Praise of Pecans: Recipes & Recollections

Very well put together; lots of recipes. I also bought this book for my brother and his wife.... they keep me well supplied with beautiful delicious pecans from ALABAMA! (shelled and ready to go) .. I love em! and I make goodies all the time... no wonder I'm so fluffy...

Not only is this book chock full of delicious recipes, but Ms. Jackson also shares some wonderful stories about the history of pecans as well as colorful stories from her past. It's a fun read and the recipes are easy to follow. It's worth buying just for the Peace Pecans recipe. They're easy to make and now my whole family is addicted to them!!

A few days before he died in 1909, legend has it that the late Texas governor Jim Hogg said that he didn't want a headstone to be placed at his grave. Instead, he requested that a pecan tree be planted to mark his final resting place. Although the original tree has been replaced, it's said that Hogg's love for the pecan spurred the Texas legislature to name it as the official state tree of Texas in 1919. Hogg requested that a walnut tree be planted at his grave, too, but until someone sends me a book with walnut recipes, we'll discuss pecans. June Jackson, a native of Miss., former talk show host and the creator of "Better Cheddar" spread, has a fondness for our state nut. "As a Southerner transplanted to the North, I remember the thrill of the fall pecan harvest back home," she writes in the introduction to this lush book of pecan-inspired recipes. At that time, she was living in Maryland, which is too far north for pecans to flourish. "Each September, I became nostalgic, imagining I could smell the acrid scent of the trees' leaves. ... Cooking with pecans took some of the sting out of being away from them geographically," Jackson remembers. The book contains some 100 mouth-watering recipes and 75 full-color photographs. It should come with some kind of warning because you really get hungry just leafing through the pages. Classic pecan recipes like Pecan Pie, Comforting Cinnamon Toast, Pecan Waffles, Pecan Pralines and Simple Roasted Pecans are lavishly laid out, along with some pretty interesting new ideas like Candied Ginger Pecans, Pecan-Stuffed Mushroom Caps, Honey Pecan Butter, Pecan-Encrusted Trout and Key Lime Pie with a Pecan Twist. I gained five pounds just writing this review, but that won't stop me from taking the book home and trying out some of Jackson's delightful dishes. With the holidays just around the corner, we can all use a new source for special treats for our friends and families. Jackson adds engaging anecdotes and a resource guide that lists websites for ordering all things pecan, along with some cute and "nutty" facts, making this a kitchen favorite you'll enjoy for many years to come.

Culinary expert and cookbook author June Jackson combines personal recollections with superbly presented recipes that showcase the versatility of pecans in all categories of cooking from snacks, appetizers and treats, to salads, entrees, side dishes, baked goods, and condiments. From Smoky Roasted Pecans; Festive Wild Rice-Pecan Salad; Grilled Salmon with Pecan Butter; and Gourmet Roast Duck with Pecan Dressing; to Spinach Manicotti with Smoky Pecans; Comforting Cinnamon Toast with a Pecan Twist; Made-From-Scratch Pecan Waffles; and Lemony Pecan Mayonnaise, "In Praise Of Pecans" is a compendium of more than 100 wonderfully illustrated, mouth-watering, gourmet quality pecan flavored dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friend', June Jackson's "In Praise Of Pecans" is a very highly praised and recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections!