Get Crackin'!

[Sprinkler Buddy]

I'm sitting here snacking on one of my most favorite nuts, Pistachios. In my parts, you'll find pecan trees. Does anyone here have their own Pistachio tree? I see these came from CA and I've noticed a few here from those parts.

 

[bobm]

I don't have a pistachio tree, however just 10 miles N of our ranch in C. Cal. there are hundreds of acres in pistachio orchards.

 

[baymule]

My great grandmother used to roast pecans and I do it the way she did. Melt 1/2 stick BUTTER (not margarine ) in a heavy iron skillet on medium heat. Dump in a pound or two of pecan halves. Stir. Stir. Keep stirring. Ok.....getting tired of stirring now......turns up heat......adds more butter, what's that smoke?? OK, maybe I don't roast pecans the exact way she did. But you want a slow roast, plenty of real butter and keep stirring. I start fishing out the roasted ones.....maybe I should roast ONE pound at a time instead of 2 or 3 pounds. Wait until the pecans are roasted to add salt or spices. If you add them in the skillet, the spices and salt will only burn (and smoke a lot-ask me how I know) After you have scooped the roasted pecans into a mixing bowl, add salt to taste. I add ground cayenne pepper and garlic for a spicy pecan.

Try pecans like this-yummy!

 

[so lucky]

Isn't it amazing how much better a pecan tastes when it is toasted/roasted?
I love pistachios, too. I bought a bag of shelled pistachios not too long ago, and nearly made myself sick, eating them so fast. Their shells are a natural deterrent to pistachio pigs like me, but buying them pre-shelled---well, that's asking for trouble!

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

I would suggest going to a library and flipping through some of the books there, you're a least guaranteed to find a little bit of info in a few books.

Maybe searching for a commercial grower online, contact them and ask questions. Or you could kidnap, them bind them to a chair in a dark room and interrogate them (lamp overhead and all...). "How do you grow pistachios? Tell me!" Whichever way you prefer, I guess.

I'm almost certain that you could grow them in steamy Florida. I have done some reading and don't think (if I remember right) that they like acidic, soaking wet soil. Also the nut itself (This could be cashews that I'm thinking about!) is fused to a poisonous fruit, nut on the outside and one nut per fruit, you have to remove them. Then again do some research. If I've even read about pistachious it was a long, long time ago and I'm probably not remembering things right!

 

[PhilaGardener]

Pistachios, cashews and mangos all are in the same family as poison ivy (Anacardiaceae) and contain some level of a toxin called urushiol, which is why some folks can be sensitive to them. (Link)

 

[thistlebloom]

We love pistachios! Wish I could grow them.
We have a little pistachio ritual here in the summertime. After church on Sundays DH and I grab a bowl of unshelled pistachios and sit out in the picket garden, cracking
and shelling and watching the hummers.

I know what you mean So Lucky! It's real easy to eat too many when they're shelled.