Pecan Pickings

Phoenix... that is where I am now. Most comfortable temperature with my adoring brother and pregnant sister-in-law, what more can I ask for? My brother decided to treat me today to a 'farm' lunch - all grown at the farm.. and served fresh. This farm is about 20 minutes from Chandler at the foot of South Mountains- beautiful place with weekday and weekend breakfast and lunch options.
We drove there about 1:30pm and stood in a queue for the lunch orders. I got a roasted vegetable garden sandwich and thank god could exchange with my brother for his regular sprout sandwich. The best thing about the whole trip is the studio with paintings, accessories that are sold there in consignment. All hand made by locals artists.
We finished our lunch, took a walk through the garden, of course with veggies grown there, and were coming back the same way when I was intrigued (as my brother later said) by 2 ladies, 2 plastic bag each and a stiff twig in their hands.. scouring the withered leaves on the earth! Yes I was intrigued, wanted so so so badly to find out about their excursion. Encouraged by my curiosity, I looked in the earth to notice a medium sized nut. Yes NUT.. that is exactly what we noticed. Now encouraged by us ladies, my brother became the nut cracker and we let ourselves have a taste of what was inside the nut! Yes, you heard me right, we broke the nut to see what was in there...
Yahoooo... it tasted or looked like walnut. Thinking that it was walnut and that we could also pick a few since so many others (now we saw a few others also) were picking, we started on our quest - to collect some walnuts. Scouring the earth for the nut from tree to tree became out 'jolly' job. We even encouraged my brother, not so easily encouraged, to pick some straight from the tree.
After all the pickings we had about half a standard sized plastic bag!! We are so thrilled at our excursion...
Came home and googled the nuts, it was not walnut but Pecan.

Now to Baklava, with Pecans... I will have the recipe for you in a few days...

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