Tag Archive: pecans

Sweet Valley Organics Dark Chocolate Praline Cinnamon Pecans

In 1907, Shibley Azar opened a small store in El Paso, Texas selling nuts and candy. The business grew and is now Sunrise Confections owned by Mount Franklin Foods, LLC. They continue to manufacture confections and nut products. The newest facility makes natural, organic, and functional food products.

According to their website, Sweet Valley Organics snack bites come in five varieties: Chewy Bananas, Sea Salt Toffee Almonds, Tart Cherries, Sea Salt Carmel Cashews, and today’s feature item, Praline Cinnamon Pecans.

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Hammond’s Chocolate Bars

Once again we get to my birthday, and here come the gifts of chocolate!

Yay, I have new chocolate bars to try and this time they are made by Hammond’s Candies in Denver, CO.

According to their website, www.hammondscandies.com, Hammond’s has been in business for more than 90 years. In 1920, Carl T. Hammond, Sr. founded Hammond’s Candy Company in Denver, Colorado. His first candy creation was the Honey Ko Ko - a chocolate topped with shredded coconut.

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Coconut Pecan Brownies

Let me feed your brain first, OK? The term “coconut,” is of Spanish and Portuguese origin. The term was derived from the word “coco,” meaning “monkey face.” This is allegedly because Portuguese and Spanish explorers found a resemblance between a monkey’s face and the base of a coconut.

Coconuts are the fruit of the coconut palm, scientifically known as cocos nucifera, and the word nucifera means "nut-bearing." The fruit-bearing palms are native to Malaysia, Polynesia, and southern Asia, and are now also abundant in South America, India, the Pacific Islands, Hawaii and Florida.
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Chocolate Pecan Pie

Wow, it's November already.  As we're beginning the approach on the upcoming holiday season it's time to start thinking about great holiday recipes to share with guests.

Pecan pie is one of those desserts that is popularly served at Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.  It is also considered a specialty of Southern U.S. cuisine. 

Pecan pie is typically made of corn syrup and pecan nuts, but you're on my website and that means you expect chocolate.  So here's a chocolate pecan pie recipe for you to enjoy.  And, this one is quite simple to make.
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Chocolate Pecan Caramel and Petite Sirah

Bogle Petite SirahDuring a recent chocolate and wine tasting program, I introduced the pairing of a dark chocolate covered pecan and caramel cluster with a Bogle Petite Sirah. 

Looking for a wine that would work with cluster, I described what I needed and then took the suggestion from a very knowledgeable wine guru.   But up until serving it, I had not tried this particular combination.  This always makes me a bit nervous because I am using something unfamiliar, yet I’m simultaneously excited to try something new.

The pairing did not disappoint!  This wonderful twosome worked great in the tasting and would also be a very satisfying after dinner treat.
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White Chocolate Almond Pecan Pie

Pies are one of the most loved American desserts. You can choose from an array of pie recipes. If you want a recipe that can guarantee an exquisite taste, you can opt for pecan pies.

Pecan pie has long been a staple of many holiday meals, but there's no reason to limit your enjoyment to the holidays. 

If you are an avid fans of pecan pie, you will definitely love it with white chocolate and almonds. All the wonderful flavors mixed together will provide you with a taste of rich, soft, and creamy filling with an addition of a sweet white chocolate flavor along with the crunchiness of pecans and almonds at every bite.
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Chocolate Covered Cicadas?

A popular candy and peanut shop has been around Nashville for more than 80 years. But just recently, the well-known store created a buzz all over town. They started to offer chocolate covered cicadas for their consumers. From then on, customers went in, and out, of their shop.

Insects have long been enjoyed as a culinary delicacy all over the world. The owner thought of giving cicadas a shot in her own kitchen.

According to the owner, Olivia Swallows, the popularity of her very own chocolate covered cicadas started when the people behind their peanut shop posted a message about it on the store’s Facebook page. The word of mouth and social media really made a lot of people get curious enough to have a taste of this confection.
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Chocolate Covered “Sea Turtle”

Last Monday I reviewed a Yuma Arizona chocolates shop called Chocolate Crafters. I reported on their chocolate covered candied orange peel. Oh - yummy memory.

Of course, I didn’t try just one item. The Sea Turtle, a dark chocolate-covered salty caramel and pecan cluster, captured my attention, too. It was all I expected and more. The pecans were crunchy, the salty caramel was smooth, buttery and, yes, salty, and the chocolate, although mild, blended perfectly into all the flavors with ease.

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Chocolate Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is one of those desserts that I always wonder if it's worth the calories because there is no chocolate.

Today's recipe is the solution.  Add chocolate to pecan pie and now it's the best of both worlds with a great nut and chocolate combination!

Chocolate Pecan Pie

• 9-inch deep pie shell
• 2 tbsp butter
• ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup light karo syrup
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1½ cups pecan halves
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