Nuts

Today is Pecan Day, the only nut tree native to the United States. On March 25, 1775, George Washington planted a pecan tree at his Mount Vernon estate. Pecans are beautiful hardwoods that live up to 300 years. Although technically, pecans are classed as fruits, not nuts. 

I buy big bags of pecans at Costco and don't think much of it, but pecan nuts were once a rare treat. This frugal recipe from the 1950's has a cup of Karo syrup plus an entire cup of sugar, with just a sprinkling of nuts. As kids we would have gobbled it up. It makes my teeth hurt now just reading it.  

Remember good old Stuckey's and that blue roof along the highway? The chain started in the 1930's in a lean-to roadside shed in Eastman, Georgia. Ethel Stuckey made pecan rolls with the nuts from their family orchard.

Stuckey's was a popular stop for Florida-bound drivers on U.S. Route 23. At one time there were 350 stores scattered across the south and mid west.

A sad abandoned Stuckey's restaurant somewhere along a freeway. 

Not much news here, except looking forward to Monday when we're flying to Palm Springs for a short (and hopefully) warm break from the rain.