Pecans Archives - Strength and Sunshine

Gluten-Free Hummingbird Loaf Cake (Vegan)

May 1, 2017 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 115 Comments

The sweet and nutty classic Southern dessert now with a gluten-free and vegan recipe! Gluten-Free Hummingbird Loaf Cake topped with a delicious dairy-free cream cheese frosting and packed with pecans, banana, and pineapple!

Have you ever had some Hummingbird? Haha, don’t be silly, you know what I mean 😉 I had never had this classic Springtime Southern American cake until last month. I felt like carrot cake, morning glory cakes, and hummingbird cake all fall in that same sweet filled breakfasty cake category. This hefty loaf cake is packed with banana, pineapple, pecans, sweet and spice, and of course a killer cream cheese frosting (essential, again, to that trio!)Read More

Cranberry Pecan Spiced Skillet Granola

December 21, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 159 Comments

Bring the scents of cozy warmth and cheer to you home by making this stove-top cranberry pecan spicy skillet granola. Gluten-free and vegan, the perfect healthy treat to munch on, morning, noon, or night!

When the random granola–making–craving hits, that’s just what a girl has to do. I found myself last week in need to some granola making, not just to replenish my stock, but also to just relax and enjoy one of my favorite past times of granola baking. However, instead of using the oven this time, I made my granola in my lovely new cast iron skillet! (I actually made a different granola recipe with the skillet a few weeks ago, but I decided to share this one first). My new cast iron that I got 2 months ago finally gets its debut on the blog!Read More

What To Avoid With A Tree Nut Allergy

September 1, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 52 Comments

Tree nut allergies are one of the most common and talked about among the Top 8. It is the second most common among infants and children and once acquired is usually a lifelong food allergy, with only 9% of the population ever outgrowing it. This makes it common among adults as well. Tree nut allergies (as well as peanut allergies) can cause severe reactions and even death. Epi-Pens are usually a must with nut allergies and as in some cases even the touch or breath of someone else who has just consumed the allergen could cause a reaction.

Tree nuts should not be confused with peanuts or seeds. Peanuts are legumes (beans), but in some cases a peanut allergy may accompany a tree nut allergy and vise versa. There are many types of tree nuts and you may be allergic to one, two, a select few, or all of them. Coconut is also listed by the FDA as a tree nut, however, it is extremely for someone allergic to tree nuts to be allergic to coconut as it is actually a fruit seed. But coconut can still cause allergic reactions.

Because of the severity of many nut allergies, schools have started to make “nut-free” zones, classes rooms, etc. It causes controversy of course, but safety is most important in these cases. Some people even require an “allergy-detecting” dog that will let them know if the allergic substance is near by or in the room. The only way to stay safe, as with any allergen, is to avoid the allergen (tree nuts) at all costs by reading labels, checking for cross-contamination and processing/manufacturing/facility practices, and keeping the allergens out of the house.

The good news is nut-alternatives have become more mainstream over the years and there are great safe options that can replace those of nuts.Read More

Roasted Sweet Vanilla Pecan Butter

December 10, 2014 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 150 Comments

Do I have a sweet recipe for you today! During the summer I made a ton of more “festive” holiday recipes (unintentionally), so I have been saving them for just this season! Think things like cinnamon, snickerdoodles, sweetness, gingerbread, and christmasy love! That will all be coming at you in the next few weeks leading up to THE BEST days of the year 😉 For now I’m sharing a super fun homemade nut butter! What could be better than that!?

Say hello to my Roasted Sweet Vanilla Pecan Butter! You all know by now that I have an undieing love for cashews (the best nut ever…ever!). But, my heart does have a special place for the beautiful pecan as well. I really never ate nuts when I was younger. We just never had them in the house, especially the more expensive ones like pecans. So I wasn’t sure I liked them until I became a nut fanatic a few years ago.

However, now I can tell you that I love pecans! I love all nuts for that matter! Well, except walnuts. They are okay, but I wouldn’t freeing choose to eat them. They definitely rank last in my opinion. Pecans though, they are near the top. They’re sweet like cashews, but a little more robust. Of course I love eating them raw, unsalted, and cold from the fridge just like cashews. That keeps them a little chewy if you will, just how I like it! But roasted and sweet isn’t bad either 😉

Don’t pecans just feel like the holidays? They are one of the holiday nuts…right? I think so! Plus this sweet vanilla butter is the perfect homemade gift! You can of course eat it all yourself (like I did), but now since it is the holiday season and not summer…why not put it in a pretty glass jar and gift it to a loved one! So easy and they will LOVE you 😉 If someone made me homemade nut butter I would be eternally grateful! **hint hint**

You know what’s great about pecans? They must have more oils in them, because they blended into the best, smoothest, and creamiest butter! Even my Ninja Ultima was able to handle it! Plus, anytime you roast the nuts before making a nut butter, that just releases the oils more and makes blending much easier without have to add your own oil.

Roasted Sweet Vanilla Pecan Butter

Ingredients: (serves 6-8)

+ 2 Heaping Cups of Raw Unsalted Pecans

+ 1 Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract

+ 6 Drops of Vanilla Stevia

Directions:

+ Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

+ Line a baking sheet with parchment or lightly oiled foil. Spread your pecans evenly on the sheet and bake for about 7 minutes (you’ll start to smell them and they’ll glisten!)

+ Remove the pecans and let cool for a few minutes. Then add them to a high-powered blender or food processor. Blend until the pecans form a flour-y meal texture.

+ Now add the vanilla extract and stevia. Blend again, scraping the sides of the container a few times, until the mixture becomes a lovely creamy butter!

+ Store in a glass jar with a tight lid, in the refrigerator!

O yea, not only does your house smell lovely when the pecans are roasting, but once you put them in the blender with the vanilla…o my! My whole kitchen smelled like festive holiday love…in the dog days of summer 😉 The best of both worlds, right?

I hope you decide to make this and make it as a gift! It is such a fabulous spread for anything! From bread, to apples, to carrots…to just, you know…a spoon! And for more of my homemade nut butter, make sure you check out this cinnamon roasted almond butter and this raw cashew butter!

So tell me:

+ What is you favorite and least favorite nut?

+ Did you grow up eating nuts or is it something more new? I’m pretty sure I only ever really had peanuts and sunflower seeds as a kid. Sad life!

*Recipe linking up for the week! WIAW, Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeFridays, #RecipeOfTheWeek, #StrangeButGood, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Savoring Saturdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, #WeekendBites, Real Food Recipe Roundup, Tasty Tuesdays, Meatless Mondays, Lena’s Tasty Tuesdays!*

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Festive Spiced Pecan Quinoa Granola

November 5, 2014 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 138 Comments

There is no better time to start sharing ALL the granola recipes! Why? Granola is basically the quintessential perfect foodie gift to give during the holiday season. Am I right? Yes, of course I am! Not only does giving granola make some happy tummies, but it also shows you took the time and love to actually prepare a thoughtful creation with your own two hands. You didn’t just run out and pick up a bottle of wine or grab a gift card. You actually made something, which I think is often sadly neglected now-a-days.

With just a few simple ingredients and under an hour of your time, you could have some wonderful, from the heart, granola to give to a loved one. (Or just keep it for yourself…I won’t tell! But to be safe, just make a double, even triple batch!). This isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill granola either. It will wow whomever you give it to, I guarantee!Read More