Day Trips

Photo by Gerald E. Mcleod

The Cuero Pecan House is one nutty place. They only have one kind of nut – pecans – but they do them up right.

First off, their pecan pie would take the blue ribbon at any county fair. This 9-inch heavyweight is full of nuts in a creamy filling, but it is the crust that makes it a standout.

The Pecan House started in the 1960s, when it operated seasonally, processing the pecan crop from around Cuero. In 2003, Annette Rath expanded the business to year-round. Three years later, she was joined by Mary Beth Finney.

"We were never satisfied with other people's products, so we decided to just do it ourselves," Mary Beth says in a soft South Texas drawl. The two gals added a commercial kitchen and started cooking.

For cookie lovers, their Cowboy Cookie is an oatmeal cookie filled with pecans and chocolate chips, and has the pent-up energy of a power bar. The kitchen's chocolate Cowgirl Cookies are no sissies. The Pecan House utilizes the Texas state nut to make a dozen kinds of candies and seasoned nuts. Oh yeah, and they also carry plain, shelled pecans.

The Cuero Pecan House is nestled next to the railroad tracks at 104 W. South Railroad St. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. If you can't make it by in person, then place an order at 361/275-5632 or www.cueropecanhouse.com.

1,095th in a series. Collect them all. Day Trips, a book of "Day Trips," is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.