THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thurdsay, December 8, 1994             TAG: 9412030138
SECTION: FLAVOR                   PAGE: F1   EDITION: FINAL 
COLUMN: Morsels 
SOURCE: Ruth Fantasia 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   34 lines

IF YOU'RE UP TO YOUR EARS IN PECANS, DON'T PANIC

EVERY FEW years, Mother Nature is generous and overwhelms us with some form of produce.

Usually it's zucchini. This year, it's pecans.

``Please,'' begged a reader over the phone. ``I've got this tree that hasn't done anything for years, and suddenly I've got thousands of pecans. And, I'm really getting tired of pecan pies.''

The bumper crop isn't limited to Hampton Roads, which is good for those of us without trees. A big crop translates to more affordable prices at the supermarket.

But for those up to their waists in pecans, Tom Vortmann, spokesman for the Pecan Growers of America, says the nuts last up to nine months refrigerated and up to two years frozen.

For recipes, the women at Eastern Virginia Medical School have just published ``Nuttin' But Pecans.''

The 250-page cookbook was written by Adair Heyl of Norfolk. It's available for $12.50, including shipping, from: the Office of Public Affairs, Eastern Virginia Medical School, P.O. Box 1980, Norfolk, 23501. Or call 446-6050.

In the meantime, inside are a few recipes from the Pecan Growers of America. by CNB