Forage

for·age

fôrij,ˈfärij

verb

1.

(of a person or animal) search widely for food or provisions.

"gulls are equipped by nature to forage for food"

noun

1.

bulky food such as grass or hay for horses and cattle; fodder.

2.

a wide search over an area in order to obtain something, especially food or provisions.

"the nightly forage produces things that can be sold"

The most important words in today’s blog are: forage, pecan pie, and Scott.

This is why:

Forage – Newton had his apple and I had a pecan. The pecan didn’t literally fall on my head, but close. A pecan fell near me as I was on my morning walk a couple of weeks ago and I had my own eureka moment. There are millions, or maybe almost one hundred pecan trees in my neighborhood. Everyday I step on and over pecans. Why not gather them (forage)?

Pecan Pie – This traditional Thanksgiving dessert is a staple on my table come the fourth Thursday in November. I make it from my mother’s recipe. Why not use pecans foraged from my neighborhood?

Scott: My daughter’s partner whom I love dearly. His favorite pie is pecan, not Key Lime. (Which is a much easier pie to make, just sayin’.)

How to Forage for Pecans

As I have begun picking up pecans on my morning walks I have come up with some rules, or suggestions for foraging.

1. Know your trees. Oak trees drop acorns. Pecan trees drop pecans. There is a big difference. My dogs will eat acorns, but they will eat anything. I have never heard of an acorn pie. Now surely someone will comment that acorn pies are considered a delicacy in some parts of the world (Appalachia?).
2. Limit your foraging to the pecans which have fallen in the street or other public area. Do not pick pecans from lawns of private homes. That would be trespassing and stealing.
3. Wear pants or a jacket with deep pockets.  
4. The best pecans come from the trees located in the greenest lawns. The people who tend their lawns also tend their trees, ergo better pecans.
5. It is okay to shell and eat the pecans as you gather them. I do not recommend this to anyone with a manicure.
6. Opt for groups of multiple pecans versus the solo nut. This limits the number of times you have to bend over. You will thank me for this in the morning.
7. Avoid the houses with multiple cats in the front yard. They like that pecan leaf litter next to the curb for a reason.
8. If squirrels start following you, run like hell.

Good luck on your pecan hunting.

Oh crap, I forgot that the next task is to shell them.