Book Report for Oct. 29, 2009
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Recipes for anything pecan from Basic Roasted Pecans to a Pecan Martini fill the pages of the updated version of a cookbook first printed in 1984 for the Cane River Pecan Co. store in Natchitoches.
In the introduction of “Pecans From Soup to Nuts” (Pelican Publishing Co., hardcover, $19.95), Jady Regard, who heads the family-owned pecan company, writes that his grandfather, the late Keith Courrégé, wrote the original edition. The newest version lists both Courrégé, described as a celebrated cook from New Iberia, and food writer Marcelle Bienvenu as co-authors.
Bienvenu, of St. Martinville, whose articles and recipes regularly appear in magazines and newspapers including the New Orleans Times-Picayune, also contributed some new recipes for the book’s collection of more than three dozen recipes.
The 128-page book, with its interesting mix of recipes and full-color photography by Sara Essex, is sure to be especially welcomed by home cooks during the upcoming holidays.
Courrégé called the pecan the “crown prince of the nut kingdom, God’s gift to the South” in the earlier self-published edition of “Pecans From Soup to Nuts.” The newer book opens with a discussion on the “Crown Prince,” providing a short history of the pecan and nutritional information, and explaining how to store pecans and how to cook with them.
There is an interesting mix of recipes, all written with easy-to-follow instructions. Among them are Onion Soup With Pecan Crust; Pear, Roasted Pecans and Arugula Salad; Lemon Chicken With Capers and Pecans and Super-Duper Yams; Crab Cakes With Pecan-Butter Sauce and Pecan Bread Dressing; Olivia’s Perfect Pecan Pie; and Pecan Pralines.
One recipe, Pineapple Cake, particularly intrigued me. The introduction says Courrégé called it a Cajun cake, but no one knows why. A few years ago, the Food staff was stumped when we got a request for a recipe for Cajun cake. Could this have been what that caller wanted?
I tested the recipe, and everyone who tried the cake loved it. See what you think.
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