Creole Pecans Food

CREOLE PECANS

Steps:

• Mix granulated sugar and vinegar in quart jar; add pecans and shake to thoroughly coat nuts.
• Place in shallow baking pan and toast at 250F stirring frequently, until lightly browned.
• Add butter or margarine and seasoned salt to taste, about 1/2 tsp, and toss to coat nuts.
• Continue baking until toasted.
• Cool and store in tight container. Refrigeration keeps them crisp.

CHICKEN CREOLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, celery and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender (about 4 minutes). Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, salt and cayenne pepper. Cook this Creole sauce 3 minutes longer, stirring often.
• Arrange the chicken breasts in an 8 x 11 inch baking dish. Pour the Creole sauce over the chicken.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until the chicken is tender and white throughout.

CREOLE ROASTED PECANS

Steps:

• Stir together first 3 ingredients in a jellyroll pan.
• Bake at 250 for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle with seasoning.
• Store in an airtight container 1 week, or freeze up to 2 months.

CREOLE PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Prebake the chilled pie shell, weighted down, at 350 degrees for 7 minutes.
• Take out the weights and bake another 2.
• Let cool.
• Beat the eggs until frothy.
• Add the remaining ingredients, mix well, pour into the shell, and bake at 350 degrees for about 40-45 minutes, or until set.
• Let cool completely before serving.
• Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

NANA'S CREOLE PECAN CAKE BARS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300°F Coat the bottom and sides of a large (17-by-12-inch) baking sheet with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper.
• 2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl.
• 3. Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed. Add eggs one at a time and beat until creamy. Add vanilla and beat until combined.
• 4. Add half the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until well combined. Add cinnamon and nutmeg; stir until blended into the mixture completely. Add pecans, raisins and dates to the rest of the flour mixture. (Coating the dried fruit and nuts helps distribute them in the mix.) Stir the flour-coated fruit and nuts into the batter. Do not overstir. Evenly spread the batter into the prepared baking pan with a spatula. (Coat the spatula with cooking spray, if necessary, to make spreading easier.).
• 5. Bake for 45 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the sides. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 45 minutes. Invert onto a large cutting board and remove the parchment. Cut into 48 squares.
• Per bar: 132 calories; 7 g fat (2 g sat, 3 g mono); 18 mg cholesterol; 17 g carbohydrate; 9 g added sugars; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 43 mg sodium; 90 mg potassium.
• Tip: To bring an egg to room temperature, set it on the counter for 15 minutes or submerge it (in the shell) in a bowl of lukewarm (not hot) water for 5 minutes.

CREOLE PRALINES

Steps:

• Place the sugars, the salt, the whole milk and the evaporated milk in a heavy bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• When the temperature reaches 228 degrees on candy thermometer, stir in the butter and pecans and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 236 degrees.
• Remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes.
• Add the extracts and beat the mixture with a wooden spoon until the candy coats the pecans but does not lose its gloss.
• Drop the pralines 1 tablespoon at a time onto a well-greased piece of aluminum foil or a slab of confectioner's marble.
• Allow the pralines to cool before serving.