Hickory Nut Trees

(pictures taken outside home, june 20, 2009 @ 10:26am by s.taylor)

There are several species of Hickories inside the state, this one grows right outside my home. I remember this tree as a child which was no taller than 8 feet, now it's at least 60-70 feet tall.
This tree in particular has alot of femininity too it. It's ever producing "fruit". Which is called the Hickory Nut!

We had a cat named "Hickory Nut Head" because he was so hard headed. sometimes I believe he got hit in the head by one of these nuts. The hickory nut is hard in shell and has the same species line as the Walnut. According to thenutfactory when white man settled here from early, this nut was preferred over others in wild, they created an actual hybrid of the hickory nut and the pecan together.

This tree in particular that grows outside my home is the mocker nut hickory. They are a pretty greenish color now, but reach maturity when they get a reddish brown or dark brown color. They are hard as hell to crack (like me) but have a sweet kernel that tastes alot like a walnut. Some people make hickory nut cakes which are made.


Grandma’s Hickory Nut Cake
Cake:
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup butter
3 eggs
1/8 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
2-1/2 cups flour
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup hickory nuts, chopped
(reserve a few halves for garnish)
Penuche Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk OR cream
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
(1/2 cup hickory nuts, if desired)
Cream together sugar and butter for cake.
Add eggs; beat on medium speed of mixer for
2 minutes. Mix dry ingredients together lightly
with fork. Add dry ingredients, alternating with
milk. Mix well. Stir in Vanilla and nuts.
Pour into a greased and floured 13" x 9" pan.
Bake at 325º F for 45-50 minutes.
(The cake may also be baked in 8" layer pans.)
Cool.
Make frosting by melting the butter in medium
sauce pan. Add brown sugar; boil 2 minutes.
Add milk; bring to boil. Remove from heat; cool
to lukewarm. Beat in confectioners sugar and vanilla.
(You may add 1/2 cup chopped hickory nuts,
if desired) Frost the cake; and sprinkle on any
reserved nuts for garnish.
Yield 16 servings
"A Taste of Country" 1988 Reiman Publishing
Evelyn Kennell of Roanoke, IL was the original contributor.
for more on the mockernut please visit:

Alabama Forestry Commission: Mockernut

Hickory Nut Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup corn syrup
• 3/4 cup chopped hickory nuts
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 4 ounces butter (8 tablespoons)
• 1 unbaked pie pastry shell

Preparation:

Preparation: (make it like you would a pecan pie)

Sprinkle pecans in pie shell. In large bowl beat together remaining ingredients; pour over the pecans. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 35 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool pecan pie on rack. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.
Pecan Pie serves 8 to 10.