4 cups leftover fresh pecans

[nissenpa]

what should I do with them?

they have been in the fridge for a month. Are they still good?

[C70]

toast them, chop them up and use them in a spread with softened cream cheese, onion & smoked oysters. YUM.

[jsaimd]

In our house 4 cups of pecans would be gone in 4 hours! My boys live on nuts - it is their primary source of protein - albeing an expensive one. Gratefully there is TJs.

We put pecans in yogurt for breakfast, add to savory dishes (greens, pasta, sweet potatoes, encrust meat, quinoa salad (or other grain), all sorts of things). They add a wonderful, healthy, crunchy, richness.

I put nuts in homemade bread, either in chunks or make it into nut meal.

Dessert wise, we grind up nuts to use as a pie crust (allergic to wheat).

An of course, my kids will just eat plain. One time my son had "tummy problems" and I though he had eaten something with gluten in it (he has Celiac). I quizzed him about what he had eaten and remembered the pecans, and went to check on how much was left. I couldn't find and asked him about it and my 4 year old had eaten 1 pound of pecans in one sitting. No wonder he was having tummy trouble (and I guess mommy should have been paying more attention)!

[caitybirdie]

toast them a lil bit. then add them to mashed potatoes. amazing flavor.

[Emme]

Make (or buy) your favorite shortbread circles. Adhere a couple of pecans using caramel as adhesive. Let set, then dip the whole thing in melted chocolate, and let set again.

Throw some into a date pecan milkshake.

Add them to the crust of a graham cracker crusted Pumpkin Cheesecake.

[cookingchat]

Pecans and pork combine nicely. I've made pork tenderloin entrusted with pecans (slice the pork then coat the slices) that was very good. I also love toasted nuts in salad.

[SanseiDesigns]

A standard cookie recipe calls for 1 cup of chopped nuts. I like using pecans and make variations on traditional favourites:

Toll House Pecan
Oatmeal Cranberry Pecan (a new family favourite - good healthy ingredients, too)
Russian Tea (aka Mexican Wedding Cookie)
Chinese Chews (dates and pecans)

Pecans freeze well, but friends will appreciate receiving a plate with a nice selection of cookies!

[ML8000]

How about butter pecan cookies? A good butter pecan cookies use the nuttiness of the pecan much better in my opinion compared to a pecan pie with all that sugar.

[Kelli2006]

I would make pecan cinnamon rolls or sticky buns.

[Ruth Lafler]

Yup. They're fine. Nuts will last for months at room temp., let alone in the fridge.

I made pralines for the first time the other day. Dead simple and delicious!

[Candy]

Taste and if they are bitter or off, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Blanch the pecans for about a minute. The rancidity comes from oils coming to the surface and the blanching will remove them. The rinse well, get rid of all of the scum, then toast at 350 F for about 15-20 mins.

[Andiereid]

Oh, they're fine. Seal 'em and stick 'em in the freezer, though. They'll last longer, like everyone said.

[jen kalb]

Yes. But they will last better if you pack them tightly and freeze.

[revsharkie]

I get big bunches of pecans from my folks down in Kansas and keep them in the freezer.

They make a reasonably decent substitute for pine nuts in pesto.

[pescatarian]

Taste a couple. If they are rancid, you will be able to tell by the taste. If they are ok, make a pecan pie and maybe some pecan butter cookies.

You can also toast them and use them in savoury dishes, say with roasted brussel sprouts...