With the cooler evenings and much cooler mornings it really is starting to feel a little like fall.
This cooler weather should have everyone thinking about pecan pie and other great pecan dishes.
You know fall is really here when new crop pecans start becoming available. Despitea really hard year for agriculture in the county, there will be some improved variety pecans harvested and the quality looks really good.
That is correct, despite the drought Comanche County pecan producers have just started harvesting and there will soon be some new crop pecans for everyone to enjoy.
With approximately 12,500 acres and nut sales averaging 18 to 24 million yearly, Comanche County is one of the top counties in the U.S. for pecan production.
Certainly, pecans are big business in Comanche County. To help celebrate the pecan October is Texas Pecan Month.
Not only do pecans taste good, but they are also extremely nutrient rich and healthy.
The number of health benefits that have been discovered in scientific nutrition and health research studies on the pecan are amazing.
Take a minute to look at some of these studies on the Texas Pecan Growers Association website: http://www.tpga. org/index.php, the Texas pecan Board site: https:// www. texaspecanboard. com/ or the American Pecan Council website: https:// americanpecan. com/. Youcanalsofind lots of excellent recipes and other information about pecans on these sites.
Here is a list of some of the nutrition benefits offered by eating pecans:
■ 90% of the fats in pecans are unsaturated ( about 60% monounsaturated/ 30% polyunsaturated)
■ A serving of pecans (30g) provides about 25 percent more oleic acid than a serving of olive oil (one tablespoon)
■ Pecans are cholesterol free
■ Pecans are sodium free
■ Pecans are fiber-rich
■ Pecans are a valuable plant protein source
■ Pecans have more than 19 vitamins & minerals
■ Unlike chicken you will not get worms from eating pecans
■ They are an excellent source of gamma tocopherol, an important type of vitamin E
■ They contain concentrated amounts of natural plant sterols, touted for their cholesterol- lowering ability
■ Pecans contain a variety of phytochemicals Nuts are recommended by the American Heart Association and U.S. Dietary Guidelines as a desirable source of hearthealthy unsaturated fat.
While the health benefits are wonderful it is the rich, buttery sweet flavor of the pecan that makes it popular.
Fall is an excellent time to enjoy pecans in holiday recipes or just by themselves.
Comanche County has a strong heritage associated with pecans and local pecan growers and families. Be sure to stop by one of the many local pecan outlets in the county this fall and purchase some locally grown nutritious pecans, you will not be sorry.