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This is the time of the year most Arizona residents love. The weather is perfect, sunny and in the 70’s and low 80’s. And we just can’t help but gloat a little bit when our friends everywhere else in the US are complaining about cold and snow!

The perfect weather provides a perfect backdrop to celebrate the holidays Arizona style! Here are some tips:

1.  Incorporate Arizona grown into your holiday meals.

Arizona’s warm winter climate makes it the perfect place for agriculture. Here are some of the crops in season in the winter, just in time for your perfect Arizona holiday!!

Pecans:  Arizona pecans are at their best this time of year.

Use Arizona-grown pecans in recipes like:

• Grandma Nell Hickman’s Christmas Pie  The Hickman’s are major egg producers in Arizona. This pie is not your traditional pecan pie, but incorporates bananas and lemons for a fresh treat!!
• Nutty Medjool Date Cheese Ball: This recipe also incorporates another Arizona favorite; dates!! It’s a perfect appetizer for your Arizona-style holiday!!

Beef:  If you love beef, you’ll love Arizona-grown beef!! You can buy 100% natural, range fed beef directly from Arizona ranchers like the Tomerlins who own Arizona Legacy Beef in Prescott.  Check out our “Find a Farm Product” on our Fill Your Plate website to find other Arizona ranchers who sell direct to the public. You can also buy Arizona grown beef at many Arizona meat shops and grocers!! This year’s prime-rib dinner will be the best ever.

Wine:   You might think that grapes need lots of water and cool weather to grow, but that’s just not the case. In Arizona, our grapes are grown with love!  There are many award-winning wines available from Arizona wine producers such as Pillsbury Wine Company, Carlson Creek Vineyards, and more! Arizona wines are available at many local grocery stores.

2.  Decorate your home for the holidays-Arizona style!

Cotton: Cotton is one of Arizona’s major crops and you can incorporate it into your holiday decorating by making Arizona cotton burr wreaths such as the ones made by Arizona cotton grower Tiffany Shedd!

Sun dried red chili pods:  Sun-dried red chili pods are an icon of the southwest and perfect for decorating you home for the holidays.  Use them around your house, in your tree, and on your patio. You can buy them from Arizona farmers like the San Simon Chili Company as well as at Arizona farmer’s markets! Find more Arizona chili farmers on FillYourPlate.org.

Citrus: Citrus is in season and makes a wonderful decoration for the holidays. Poke oranges with cloves and place them in bowls around the house for a wonderful holiday fragrance. Cut oranges, lemons and limes into thin slices and put them in a 200 degree oven.  Use them for garlands or Christmas tree ornaments!

If you’re fortunate enough to live in Arizona during the holidays, flaunt it! Use some or all of our tips to make this the best Arizona holiday yet!!