Picking pecans in the fall

Updated: 10/31/24

Except for the crazy weather (when it's hot, it's hotter than Florida, when it's cold, it's colder than Boston!) and the deadly tornadoes (the marina was hit twice the last two springs), we really like Chattanooga.

Surrounded by mountains and the lovely Tennessee River, this area is a paradise, not only for outdoor enthusiasts, but also for farmers. Even though we had had a hot summer, the harvest wasn't too shabby. Not that we know much about farming, but neighbors who planted reaped a good amount of green beans, squash, zucchini, cucumber, tomato, okra, corn and pears. In our 5 years here at Hales Bar Marina, we've picked wild blackberries, gingko nuts, and recently pecans.

Pecan halves

Sure, our hands got stained from picking, but it was so much fun! 

Cracking pecans

Thank goodness for this pecan cracker tool!

Final product - spiced pecans and pecan pie

This pecan picking experience brought back memories of the time when we cruised the Chesapeake Bay. We were docked at Solomons Island, Maryland, where we discovered chestnut trees and had fun picking the chestnuts and learning to shell/cook/glaze them. Both are perfect as holiday treats. The pecans are so much simpler to handle. We devoured the spiced pecans (recipe below) and pecan pie. Yum!

Spiced Pecans
[Print Recipe]
This recipe is adapted from one I found on the Internet. Great for a snack anytime.

 
2 cups pecan halves
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla 

1 Tbsp water 

¼ cup white sugar
¼ cup brown sugar 

¼ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp cloves 

½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. 

 2. In a small bowl, beat the egg white with the vanilla and water. Stir in pecans, mixing until well moistened. 

3. In a small bowl, mix together white and brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Sprinkle over nuts. Spread nuts on prepared pan. 

4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice. Be careful not to burn the nuts. Enjoy!

You might also like:

Favorite Destination: Chattanooga, Tennessee	What To Do with 50 Pounds of Chestnuts	Picking Mangoes in Florida