The Pecan Shed has just received the Texas Waffle Maker! This exciting kitchen appliance makes delicious waffles in the shape of Texas. It is the perfect gift for newlyweds, new Texans, misplaced Texans, or just about anyone on your list. The Texas Waffle Maker would also make a great addition to your own kitchen. With it you would be able to whip up a Texas treat for all your family and friends. Your breakfast bunch will be tipping their hats to you and your chuck wagon of a kitchen.
In addition to the Texas Waffle Maker, you have just got to try the Southern Pecan Gourmet Waffle Mix topped off with some Toasted Pecan Syrup. These items will surely tempt your tastebuds!
Stop by the Pecan Shed for more unique Texas gifts and gourmet treats!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Winter Weather
Thanks to Mother Nature the Pecan Shed was closed all day yesterday and until 1pm today. Since most of us live in rural areas, about 30 miles from the store, we have trouble making it to work when the roads get bad.
I laugh at all the schools that shut down the minute a snowflake falls. It is crazy to see how we in this part of Texas react to a little snow and ice when people up north still go to school and work in several feet of snow...much less inches.
Of course the snow did not last long and by Saturday we are supposed to be back up in the 60s. Good 'ol Texas weather! If you don't like it today just wait...it will change to the exact opposite again soon.
We are all glad to be at work though because new things are arriving daily from when Mom and I went to Market. Keep checking in for what all is new!
I laugh at all the schools that shut down the minute a snowflake falls. It is crazy to see how we in this part of Texas react to a little snow and ice when people up north still go to school and work in several feet of snow...much less inches.
Of course the snow did not last long and by Saturday we are supposed to be back up in the 60s. Good 'ol Texas weather! If you don't like it today just wait...it will change to the exact opposite again soon.
We are all glad to be at work though because new things are arriving daily from when Mom and I went to Market. Keep checking in for what all is new!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Birthday Cake Fudge - YUM!!!
Mom and I just got back from the Dallas Market where we saw and ordered some new and exciting gifts for the store. As soon as they start arriving I will let you know.
However, the best thing we found at Market was a new recipe for fudge...Birthday Cake Fudge! YUMMY! It is the best stuff I have ever had in my life! It is so good I want to eat an entire pan (although my Weight Watchers leader may frown upon that...I wonder how many points a piece of fudge is???).
If you are by the store you have just got to stop in to try some of this fudge. It is soooo good I just cannot even explain it. It makes you want to celebrate every day with some Birthday Cake fudge!
We also have some new flavors for Valentine's Day like Chocolate Cheesecake, Strawberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Nut, and Chocolate Covered Strawberry. Tracy, our fudge lady, even came up with "Sprinkle Me Happy" Valentine's Day fudge...it comes in plain vanilla or plain chocolate but it is so cute!
Have a great day...Jill
However, the best thing we found at Market was a new recipe for fudge...Birthday Cake Fudge! YUMMY! It is the best stuff I have ever had in my life! It is so good I want to eat an entire pan (although my Weight Watchers leader may frown upon that...I wonder how many points a piece of fudge is???).
If you are by the store you have just got to stop in to try some of this fudge. It is soooo good I just cannot even explain it. It makes you want to celebrate every day with some Birthday Cake fudge!
We also have some new flavors for Valentine's Day like Chocolate Cheesecake, Strawberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Nut, and Chocolate Covered Strawberry. Tracy, our fudge lady, even came up with "Sprinkle Me Happy" Valentine's Day fudge...it comes in plain vanilla or plain chocolate but it is so cute!
Have a great day...Jill
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sad News
We have had some sad news at the Pecan Shed recently. One of our dearest and sweetest employees, Becky, who has worked here part-time since the Fall of 1994, lost her father this past Saturday. He had endured a difficult struggle with his health for years and Becky had been by his side the entire time.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family during this sad time. May God bless them and keep them close to Him.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family during this sad time. May God bless them and keep them close to Him.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Orchard News
This time of year is a slower time for those who work out in the Montz Orchards in Charlie, TX. The Montz family has 220 acres with 8,000 trees located at their home orchard in Charlie. Also, between Byers and Thornberry, TX they own other orchards. Some of the orchards are older but some have just been planted. All these trees keep Jake and Tim very busy.
While this time of year is slower than October through December there are still things to be done. All the equipment must be overhauled and checked to make sure it will work again next year. Sometimes in the middle of harvest machines are fixed "just good enough" to finish the job. This time of year is when the proper maintenance occurs.
In addition to repairing the "nuts and bolts" of the business, the guys out at Charlie are also cleaning up the orchard floors to make sure all the pecans from that season have been picked up, all broken limbs are hauled off, and the orchard floor is smooth and ready for the next phase of crop maintenance. The trees are also pruned during this time in order keep them in commercial production form.
This year was an "off" year for our area. We had a bumper crop last year and after a bumper crop the next year is always scarce. Next year should be a little better and then the following year should be another big crop. Pecan trees typically have a three year cycle.
1. Bumper Crop
2. Scarce Crop
3. Decent Crop
Repeat
Of course all this is subject to Mother Nature. Getting enough rain, having the right temps at the right times, and avoiding freezes when they would destroy a crop are all some things that pecan producers simply cannot control.
Most of the Montz Orchards are on irrigation and so we can help with the water situation a little, but Tim says he sure has been praying for rain lately. Along with the irrigation systems, Jake and Tim use crop management tactics to try and ensure a constant crop year after year. These practices includes hedging, spraying, and shaking the trees to try and have an impact on the crop size each year. These tactics help to ensure that the Pecan Shed store will always have enough of those top quality papershell pecans available for their customers.
Thanks to Tim and Jake, as well as Scott and Chad who also work at the orchards, the Pecan Shed has been pleasing customers for over 20 years with farm fresh pecans that are hard to beat!
While this time of year is slower than October through December there are still things to be done. All the equipment must be overhauled and checked to make sure it will work again next year. Sometimes in the middle of harvest machines are fixed "just good enough" to finish the job. This time of year is when the proper maintenance occurs.
In addition to repairing the "nuts and bolts" of the business, the guys out at Charlie are also cleaning up the orchard floors to make sure all the pecans from that season have been picked up, all broken limbs are hauled off, and the orchard floor is smooth and ready for the next phase of crop maintenance. The trees are also pruned during this time in order keep them in commercial production form.
This year was an "off" year for our area. We had a bumper crop last year and after a bumper crop the next year is always scarce. Next year should be a little better and then the following year should be another big crop. Pecan trees typically have a three year cycle.
1. Bumper Crop
2. Scarce Crop
3. Decent Crop
Repeat
Of course all this is subject to Mother Nature. Getting enough rain, having the right temps at the right times, and avoiding freezes when they would destroy a crop are all some things that pecan producers simply cannot control.
Most of the Montz Orchards are on irrigation and so we can help with the water situation a little, but Tim says he sure has been praying for rain lately. Along with the irrigation systems, Jake and Tim use crop management tactics to try and ensure a constant crop year after year. These practices includes hedging, spraying, and shaking the trees to try and have an impact on the crop size each year. These tactics help to ensure that the Pecan Shed store will always have enough of those top quality papershell pecans available for their customers.
Thanks to Tim and Jake, as well as Scott and Chad who also work at the orchards, the Pecan Shed has been pleasing customers for over 20 years with farm fresh pecans that are hard to beat!
Fudge, Fudge, and More Fudge...
This year at the Pecan Shed we took on a new project. Tim came up with the idea to buy a fudge kettle and make homemade fudge at our store. While Jill and Molly were a little hesitant (if not downright defiant) about the idea, Tim proceeded with the project anyway (he usually does). We took out the old sales counter and made a new one to showcase the fudge and we also remodeled a room at the store in which to make the homemade fudge.
While sales were slow at first, thanks to advertising and word of mouth, they soon picked up and by Christmas time we were hopping with fudge sales. People were buying the stuff by the whole pan...some even several pans at a time! It was crazy...or should I say nuts!
Our most popular fudge flavors are plain chocolate, chocolate pecan, butter pecan, peanut butter and chocolate layered, chocolate mint, vanilla caramel swirl, divinity, rocky road, coconut pecan, and sugar free plain chocolate or with pecans. Jill's favorite is the peanut butter and chocolate layered...of course her jeans no longer fit but it was sooooo good!
During Christmas we also offered peppermint fudge and fudge topped with M&M's. Currently we are working on some fudge flavors for Valentine's Day...cheesecake fudge seems to be a favorite suggestion so far! Also for Valentine's Day we will have V-Day boxes available as well as heart containers filled with chocolate fudge. What a perfect gift for your Sweetie!
Make everyday a holiday with our homemade fudge!!!
While sales were slow at first, thanks to advertising and word of mouth, they soon picked up and by Christmas time we were hopping with fudge sales. People were buying the stuff by the whole pan...some even several pans at a time! It was crazy...or should I say nuts!
Our most popular fudge flavors are plain chocolate, chocolate pecan, butter pecan, peanut butter and chocolate layered, chocolate mint, vanilla caramel swirl, divinity, rocky road, coconut pecan, and sugar free plain chocolate or with pecans. Jill's favorite is the peanut butter and chocolate layered...of course her jeans no longer fit but it was sooooo good!
During Christmas we also offered peppermint fudge and fudge topped with M&M's. Currently we are working on some fudge flavors for Valentine's Day...cheesecake fudge seems to be a favorite suggestion so far! Also for Valentine's Day we will have V-Day boxes available as well as heart containers filled with chocolate fudge. What a perfect gift for your Sweetie!
Make everyday a holiday with our homemade fudge!!!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Newest Nut in the Blog World...
Welcome to the first posting of the Pecan Shed blog! We hope you will find our blog informative and fun. We plan to include news about what is new at the store, what we are doing in our orchards, and a little bit of personal information about the Montz family and the Pecan Shed staff.
Currently we are in our "off" season so the blog should be updated rather regular. During our "pecan" season of October through December it may be harder to find time to update the blog but we will do our best.
Thank you for visiting us today. We hope it is a good one for you.
Currently we are in our "off" season so the blog should be updated rather regular. During our "pecan" season of October through December it may be harder to find time to update the blog but we will do our best.
Thank you for visiting us today. We hope it is a good one for you.
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