Recipes in a Nutshell

Cooking with Hickory Nuts

The hickories found in or near this region, all belonging to the genus Carya, are mostly bitter and essentially inedible. But, the shagbark hickory is an epicure's delight! The hickories are medium to large sized trees, 60 to 80 feet high and up to about 2 feet in diameter, and slow growing taking up to 200 years to mature. The shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) and the bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) occur naturally here, the former having a sweet nut and the latter a bitter nut. Besides the nuts which are relatively easy to open, the wood of these trees is excellent for tool handles of all sorts. The bitternut is the one that gives the true "hickory smoked" flavour to hams and bacon.

The husk of the hickories splits on maturing, and the pecan like nuts can be opened with standard nut cracking equipment.

Hickory Devilled Eggs

This recipe makes about 12 of the most unusual stuffed egg halves you have ever eaten.

6 eggs
2 Tbs softened butter
2 Tbs light cream
2 Tbs Dijon mustard
1/3 cup finely chopped hickory nuts
Salt to taste
Ground pepper
Watercress garnishing

Hard boil the eggs, chill, peel, and halve them. Remove the egg yolks, mash them, and blend with the butter and cream. Add the mustard, nuts, salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly. Spoon the mixture into the egg whites. Arrange on a platter and garnish with watercress.

Hickory Nut Salad Dressing

This 6 serving recipe makes a dressing good for both mixed-bean and tossed salads.

½ cup ground hickory nuts
2 Tbs cider vinegar
1¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
3 Tbs lemon juice
1 clove garlic, chopped

Combine all ingredients and shake well.

Hidden Hickory Surprise

Substitute this creamy, sweet filling for your traditional frosting on a cake someday. The change will be welcomed by all who taste it!

½ cup light cream
¼ cup sugar
½ cup heavy cream
1½ cups chopped hickory nuts
1 Tbs cornstarch

Combine the creams and bring to a boil over low heat. Mix the cornstarch with 1 Tbs of water, and add to the cream. Add the sugar and bring to a boil. Then remove from the heat and add the hickory nuts. Spread it between two 9 inch layer cakes. The type of cake used is at your discretion but chocolate and spice are nice.

Tardy Hickory Tarte

It's the molasses that really makes this tarte unique; although any type of molasses will suffice, there are some that think it a crime to use anything but Black Strap.

6 Tbs butter softened
1 2/3 cups hickory nuts chopped
2 eggs
½ cup molasses
2 egg yolks
1 9- inch unbaked single crust pastry shell
¾ cup brown sugar
Combine all the ingredients. Pour into the pastry shell, and bake at 425°F for 20 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 325°F and bake for 45 minutes longer, or until set.

Christmas Hickory Balls

These sweets are great around Christmas time! Santa has requested them several years in a row now, and even the elves have been known to take a little time off now and then to enjoy them.

2 cups ground hickory nuts
3 tsp vanilla
1 cup butter
2 cups sifted flour
4 Tbs sugar Confectioners sugar
Mix nuts, butter, sugar and vanilla. Then mix nuts thoroughly with flour. Combine the two mixtures. Roll into small one inch balls. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake in a slow oven for 45 minutes. Roll in confectioners sugar when hot and once again when they've cooled. Coloured sprinkles or sparkles may be added to the icing sugar to make them look more cheery.

Shagbark Hickory Fudge

This special rich fudge is laced with a lovely hickory nut flavour. The recipe has been tried and true by several members of SONG.

2 cups brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
2 Tbs syrup
2 Tbs cocoa
½ cup evaporated milk
1 Tbs butter
½ cup chopped hickories

Combine all ingredients except for the butter and the nuts. Boil until it forms a firm ball in ice water. Remove from stove and beat until set. Add butter and the nuts. Pour in a pan or dish and cool thoroughly.

Jelly-Nut Spread

This is more than a creative new way to eat jelly, it spruces up an old favourite.

½ cup wild fruit jelly, jam, or marmalade, any flavour you choose.
½ cup chopped hickory nuts. In fact pecans, black walnuts and butternuts work well too.

Mix jelly and nuts well and use as a sweet spread or sandwich filling. Makes about a cup.

Watercress Dill Hickory Pesto

This is more traditional than it looks - the oil is in the mayonnaise.

3 oz watercress
1 oz dill weed
2 oz shagbark hickory nuts
2 oz Romano cheese
2 oz mayonnaise

Put everything through a meat grinder, or combine the Italian way by pounding in a mortar & pestle.

Provided by SONG. Feel free to copy with a credit.