National Pecan Day

Today is National Pecan Day, so thought I’d take the strawberry balsamic vinegar from yesterday and pecans and make a 3 ingredient salad that is delicious as well as simple.  For dessert how about a pecan apple bread pudding to celebrate with?

Strawberry Salad

5 oz. fresh baby spinach

1 ½ cups strawberries

½ cup pecan halves

  

Dressing

3 tbs. extra virgin olive oil

3 tbs. strawberry balsamic vinegar

¼ tsp. salt

⅛ tsp. pepper

Rinse and dry the spinach.  Rinse and dry your strawberries.  Cut your strawberries lengthwise.  Sprinkle with you pecans. 

Put your dressing ingredients into a mason jar with a lid and shake it well. 

It could not be any simpler, but the taste is huge.

Pecan Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

5 pieces of dried bread cut into tiny cubes

½ cup pecans

1 can of apple pie filling

½ cup warm water

½ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cups warm milk

¼ cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place bread in a baking dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Chop your pecan and cut up your bread into small cubes.

Sprinkle with the pecans and apple pieces. Using your fingers, gently distribute the fruit evenly among the bread.

Whisk together warm water and brown sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the sugar water over the bread.

Microwave your milk so it is warm.

Combine the remaining ingredients, mixing well and then pour the mixture over bread, making sure to soak everything evenly.  Let it soak in for about a ½ an hour.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm with caramel sauce, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy your National Pecan Day, be happy and may God bless you and yours.