Instead of giving fruit or other gifts to your friends and family this year surprise them with Texas pecans. Texans pecans can be used in hundreds of different ways. They're great in salads, breads, muffins, sauces and of course they are the main ingredient in a thick Texas Pecan Pie.  Texas pecans are nutritional powerhouses. They are packed with vitamins and minerals and have been proven to lower cholesterol.  Giving your friends and family a sweet , healthy gift is a lot better than giving them a sweet unhealthy gift like candy coated popcorn or chocolate.  Here are some great Texas pecan gift ideas that you can give to your family and friends this year.

 

Texas Pecan Salad gift basket - Texas pecans are wonderful in salads, and salads can be made in so many ways that your friends and family could eat them everyday without eating the same one twice.  To make a great healthy gift basket or gift package buy a plastic salad keeper which keeps lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and other produce crisp and fresh for a long time. Inside pack a few bags of Texas pecans and some envelopes of gourmet salad dressing mixings that just need to be mixed with oil to be ready to serve. Throw in a couple small bottles of exotic oils to make the salad dressing and some handmade croutons and you have an innovative, delicious and healthy gift. 

 

Texas Pecan Snack Set - Texas pecans are ideal snacks. Sweet, crunchy, a little salty and packed with protein, vitamins and minerals to provide a quick energy boost. Make or buy some cloth or canvas re-usable snack bags.  The best ones are made from cotton duck canvas fabric and are washable.  Include five bags, one for everyday of the work or school week, and then fill them with bags of wrapped Texas pecans and nuts.  Your friends and family will love having a handy, easy to carry, healthy and delicious snack and they will think of you everyday when they use the snack bags. 

 

Texas pecan tree - If you want to send an exotic gift try sending a Texas pecan tree to your friends and family to plant in their yards. Include recipes for Texas Pecan Pie and other dishes and let your friends and family know you expect to share the rewards when the tree is ready to start producing Texas pecans.  A Texas pecan tree is a perfect gift for someone in your life who is passionate about the environment.