Recipe: Margie's Chicken Salad

Originally published in the Feb. 5, 2014, issue

 

Editor's Note: Margie Leger of Cordele, Ga., sent in this favorite recipe, which she said is always requested for church functions and family gatherings. Makes approximately 10 servings.

Ingredients:
5 cups cooked chicken
1 cup celery, chopped
2 cups mayonnaise
1.5 cups apple
2 cups pecan halves
1 cup sweet pickle relish
4 hardboiled eggs (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:
1. Chop chicken, hardboiled eggs and apples. Leave the peel on the apples.

2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

3. Spoon servings over lettuce leaves. Sprinkle with additional pecan halves if desired.

Recipe: Margie's Chicken Salad

Originally published in the Feb. 5, 2014, issue

 

Editor's Note: Margie Leger of Cordele, Ga., sent in this favorite recipe, which she said is always requested for church functions and family gatherings. Makes approximately 10 servings.

 

Ingredients:

5 cups cooked chicken

1 cup celery, chopped

2 cups mayonnaise

1.5 cups apples

2 cups pecan halves

1 cup sweet pickle relish

4 hardboiled eggs (optional)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Lettuce leaves

 

Instructions:

1. Chop chicken, hardboiled eggs and apples. Leave the peel on the apples.

 

2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

 

3. Spoon servings over lettuce leaves. Sprinkle with additional pecan halves, if desired.

Consumer Q&A: Go Nuts!

Q: Are almond trees grown in Georgia? I bought two and cut them down before realizing that the seed inside the fruit was the almond.  

A: ‘Hall’s Hardy’ is cold-hardy and will grow in our area. However, it has some issues. I don’t think that all the almonds sold under this name are the true variety. Some are quite bitter. Some people report the seeds are difficult to crack. Even the true Hall’s Hardy is not supposed to be as sweet as the varieties grown in California and Jordan.  Ison’s here in Georgia carries a variety named ‘All-in-One’ that I have not had any experience with. 

The almond is closely related to the peach.  The nut is at the center of the fruit.  Almonds are attractive bloomers  in the spring like peaches are, but they can be prone to some of the same insect and disease pests, too.

My solutions? Eat Georgia pecans, or plant an almond tree for beauty. If it produces any nuts worth eating, they are the almond icing on the cake.

Q: What kind of walnut is sold in the grocery store? It does not taste the same as the black walnuts I grew up with.

A: The ones sold in grocery stores are usually English walnuts (Juglans regia). They are also called “Persian walnuts” because they originally come from Iran. Sometimes you may hear them called “California walnuts” because most of the ones in this country are grown there. We do not know of anyone growing them in Georgia.

The black walnut (Juglans nigra) is native to Georgia. It has a thicker and harder shell than its Persian cousin. It also has a stronger, bolder flavor that makes it a favorite to make distinctive cakes and ice creams. Black walnut meats can sometimes be found for sale in the Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin. The black walnut is also noted for its beautiful and highly-prized dark wood. It is a handsome, distinctive and long-lived tree in the landscape.

The butternut (Juglans cinerea) is another native, but less common, walnut you may be lucky to come across. It is noted for its buttery-tasting nuts. Both black walnut and butternut have long been used as a source of dye for fabric.

Q: Is it possible to substitute pecans for pine nuts or walnuts in a pesto recipe? Pine nuts are expensive, and I like to use Georgia products when I can.  

A: Yes, it is possible to use Georgia pecans in your pesto instead of pine nuts or walnuts. The pecans may be toasted or used raw. Because pecans taste different than pine nuts and walnuts, make a small batch at first to see how it compares with what you are used to and to be sure you have just the right mix of basil leaves, nuts, parmesan cheese, garlic cloves and olive oil.  

Q: Are peanuts a root crop?

A: Not really. Although they develop underground, peanuts are not roots themselves and are not attached to the peanut plant’s root system. The peanut begins as a flower above ground. After pollination, the pedicel (flower stalk) begins to extend and a “peg” begins to form. This peg buries itself in the ground and becomes a peanut.

Peanuts have a fascinating life cycle. No other crop we grow is like it.

Georgia Grown Profile: Southern Nuts

Originally published in the Jan. 22, 2014, issue

 

Retail facility focuses on shelled, unshelled pecans

 

By Jenna Saxon, press office

 

Southern Nuts is a family-owned-and-operated pecan retail facility in Lyons, Ga. The Jordan family began growing pecans more than 20 years ago and founded Southern Nuts in 2008. The company sells its own homegrown products at its retail location and online with a focus on shelled and unshelled pecans. Southern Nuts takes pride in the quality of its shelled and unshelled pecans and offers Oconee, Desirable, Sumner and Stuart varieties. In addition to pecans, customers can also find Georgia-grown jams, jellies, sauces, raw honey, Vidalia Onion dressings, chocolate covered pecans, cookbooks and more.

 

Southern Nuts joined the Georgia Grown program at the gold membership level with the hope of increasing the exposure of its business and to network with other agribusinesses in Georgia.

 

“We hope to gain more exposure, improve our marketing and increase sales through our membership with Georgia Grown,” said Debbie Jordan of Southern Nuts.

 

Georgia Grown acts as an outlet for Southern Nuts to meet and network with other tree and pecan growers while increasing the awareness of its operation. The company stands behind Georgia Grown and the program initiative and serves as an ambassador for the program by encouraging other agribusinesses to join.

 

“We help promote Georgia Grown by talking to other local businesses about the benefits that we have seen since joining,” Jordan said.

 

In addition to sharing its testimony, Southern Nuts also assists in marketing the Georgia Grown program by featuring the Georgia Grown logo on its product labels, website and marketing materials. 

Recipe: Georgia Sweet Potato and Pecan Pie

Originally published in the Dec. 25, 2013, issue

 

Editor’s Note: We used a medium-sized sweet potato for this recipe. To prepare, pierce the skin, wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave on high for five to six minutes or until soft.

Ingredients:

9-inch deep-dish pastry shell

 

For the sweet potato filling:

1 cup cooked, mashed Georgia sweet potato

¼ cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons evaporated milk

1 tablespoon butter, melted

2 teaspoons vanilla

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

For the pecan filling:

½ cup packed light brown sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup light corn syrup

2 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 teaspoons vanilla

1.25 cups chopped Georgia pecans

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Combine the sweet potato filling ingredients in a medium bowl. Pour in the bottom of the pastry shell.

3. Combine pecan filling ingredients in a second bowl. When mixed, gently pour over sweet potato mixture.

4. Bake for one hour and cool on a wire rack before serving. 



Notice: Marketing Order for Pecans

The recent referendum, which ended March 30, resulted in the required number of producers voting in favor of approving the major amendment to the Marketing Order for Pecans. The major amendment reads:

            472-1-.09 Method of Finance, Amended

• Projects, undertakings and expense incurred under this Order shall be financed by an assessment and levy of not more than one cent per pound on in-shell pecans produced in this state for sale. The assessment and levy shall be against the affected producers of pecans. Upon approval of this requisite number of affected producers and effective as of Aug. 1, 2014, a levy assessment of one cent per pound on in-shell pecans is hereby made. Such levy shall continue of force and effect until this Order is suspended or superseded as provided by law and during the time this order remains of force and effect.

Producers are also asked to note the change in the following:

            472-1-.10 Method of Collection

• The levy and assessment provided by this Order shall be collected from affected producers. As aid in such collection, buyers, handlers, distributors, sales agents and processors shall deduce amount of such levy and assessment from each payment made to the affected producer and they all remit the same to the Commissioner of Agriculture for the account of the producer. The first handler will collect and remit the one cent per pound assessment on all pecans purchased from affected producers.

Therefore, beginning Aug. 1, 2014, all in-shell pecans grown by affected producers in Georgia for sale will be assessed at a rate of one cent per pound. Assessment payments should continue to be sent to the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Pecans, and be addressed as follows: 19 MLK Jr. Drive SW, Room 324, Atlanta, GA 30334.