Yesterday was my sister-in-law Patty’s birthday. She is one of the nicest humans on the face of the earth and watching her raise her kids showed me the investment of time and love that goes into raising children. Why do you think I put it off for so long?
I mention her because after many years of either not placing or not baking, she is finally the winner of the CTPPC, and it’s about damned time!
When not baking, Patty is a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball lover- here she is on the Roberto Clemente bridge looking fab.
My nephew Chris did not enter a pie this year, but he has taken the trophy so many times, the glow of victory can’t possibly burn as bright for him, so it was good that he gave others a chance. You go Chris! I look forward to going to Patty’s house and just touching the trophy, so I can bask in the afterglow of her victory since I’ve never won it. Congratulations Patty, you deserved it!
My Thanksgiving was awesome. I got to spend the day with my kids and their friends, cooking and fussing over pumpkins and table settings, which I love doing. The next day my sweet Brandon came to visit with his wife and little girl and I was in heaven. We all stood in the kitchen and grazed on leftover turkey with all the trimmings. That’s one of my favorite things to do with family members
We went to the playground, played, talked, then ate a big pasta meal.The next day just whizzed by and as always, it feels like there’s never enough time when we visit. Having them here just made me want to see them more, so I think I’m going to have to do some traveling in the coming year!
I laid on the couch after they left around 6 or 7 and woke up at about 2 am. Then I fell asleep again in what appears to be a Thanksgiving coma, and I’m not sure I’m actually out of it yet. But I’m hoping that maybe by tomorrow I’ll be coherent, and getting over a nasty head cold. But I can’t rest until I tell you about the pecan pie I made. (Please pardon my poor photo placement, but I had to post these because I’m a proud Franma.)
Esther and Brandon coming down the slide.
Esther drinking out of one of my mom’s espresso cups with her mom, Ingrid watching.
I’d love to take credit for the recipe myself, but it’s my friend Kimberly’s. She’s an amazing cook. She baked a pecan pie back in 2010, which she brought to my house for Thanksgiving and it was the best I’d ever had. (I never forget good food!)
The flavor was wonderful and it had just enough salt to make it amazing. So, I begged her for the recipe. Then I scribbled it down on a piece of paper and lost it for a few years in a massive pile of recipes. (Thank God I write this blog or I’d never know where my recipes were.)
I found it just in time for Thanksgiving and my daughter loved it! I actually added twice the amount of pecans it called for by mistake, but it was so good, I recommend doing that. This recipe says it will make two pies, but when I cut it in half, the filling was just barely enough for a regular pie shell.
Some people put chocolate chips or chocolate ganache in the bottom of the crust then pour the filling in over that. You could do that, but honestly, this pecan pie was really great just plain with a little homemade whipped cream on top!
My pie with Kimberly’s scribbled, stained recipe beside it.
Kimberly Swan’s Amazing Pecan Pie (this makes two pies)
AuthorFran TunnoMix together the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor.
Cut the butter into 1/2 inch pieces and process until the flour looks like small pebbles.
Mix in the the liquid (cold milk or cold whipping cream and water)with a spatula. Next divide the dough into four parts. Place each part on floured plastic wrap, flatten it into a disc and freeze it for about an hour.
Roll out the dough, lay it in the pie pan crimping the edges of the crust.
Combine the eggs, brown sugar, Karo syrup, molasses, flour, salt, butter and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.
Chop the four cups of pecans. Set aside the two cups of whole pecans in a cup. Pour a couple of tablespoons of the liquid brown sugar mixture over the whole pecans and stir them to coat them. Set them aside.
Then pour the chopped pecans into the liquid mixture and divide that between the two pie pans. Take the whole pecans and arrange them in circles on the top of the pies. Pour any additional liquid filling into pie. Bake at 425 for 15 min, then reduce heat to 350 and bake for an additional for 35 minutes or until center is set and not jiggly.
Ingredients
Directions
Mix together the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor.
Cut the butter into 1/2 inch pieces and process until the flour looks like small pebbles.
Mix in the the liquid (cold milk or cold whipping cream and water)with a spatula. Next divide the dough into four parts. Place each part on floured plastic wrap, flatten it into a disc and freeze it for about an hour.
Roll out the dough, lay it in the pie pan crimping the edges of the crust.
Combine the eggs, brown sugar, Karo syrup, molasses, flour, salt, butter and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.
Chop the four cups of pecans. Set aside the two cups of whole pecans in a cup. Pour a couple of tablespoons of the liquid brown sugar mixture over the whole pecans and stir them to coat them. Set them aside.
Then pour the chopped pecans into the liquid mixture and divide that between the two pie pans. Take the whole pecans and arrange them in circles on the top of the pies. Pour any additional liquid filling into pie. Bake at 425 for 15 min, then reduce heat to 350 and bake for an additional for 35 minutes or until center is set and not jiggly.
If you make this, please write and tell me what you thought. when I tasted it, I thought it was one of the best pecan pies I’ve ever had because it wasn’t just sweet, it was salty too and that made it delicious!
By the way, I think they’re having a cyber sale at Gettasommadis, my online store, so go check it out. There might be something in there for the Italian in your life.
Now on to Christmas. I think this year, I’ll post some of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes!
13 Comments
Nicol
December 5, 2016 at 8:55 pm“Franma!” I love it! So glad you had a wonderful time and added too many pecans to your pie. Sounds like the best day ever! xo
Fran Tunno
December 7, 2016 at 9:46 pmNIcol, if you ever make this pie, do the same, it’s really good with lots of nuts! Love you!
Petrea Burchard
December 2, 2016 at 7:20 pmYou really shouldn’t share recipes like this, you should force us to beg you.
Fran Tunno
December 7, 2016 at 9:45 pmYou’re right, I should, but I would feel too much guilt and that would never do. Just enjoy the recipes! One of these days I’ll take the time to organize them correctly like I promised I’d do six months ago! Then it will be easy to find them!
lafriday
December 2, 2016 at 6:55 pmI LOVE a girl(s) who serves pecan pie for Thanksgiving, since I am NOT a pumpkin pie fan. This looks SO good–too bad I’ve gone Keto for a while. Sigh.
Fran Tunno
December 7, 2016 at 9:43 pmOh Dear God LInda, I don’t know what Keto is, but it sounds like something that could slowly drive you insane. Good luck with that. I will call soon. My phone charger is lost, or I would have called you tonight! Thanks for always reading!
daedae51
December 2, 2016 at 3:09 pmOK Fran, I always love your blog and recipes but I’m not seeing an oven temp or time to bake in the recipe. Please don’t tell me I’m blind, it wouldn’t be the first time.
Fran Tunno
December 7, 2016 at 9:42 pmI had secretly hoped you were a little blind, but no, it was me, as usual. I totally forgot the temp because the paper I had scrawled the recipe on was so faded, I hardly noticed it. But thanks to you, I added it. It’s good to have proofreaders! Thank you. I hope you try the pie, it’s wonderful!
daedae51
December 7, 2016 at 9:50 pmThanks Fran, I will let you know.
Esther
December 2, 2016 at 9:42 amHej Fran, I always enjoy reading your blog and I miss you. I’m delighted that I share the same name with your so so very cute grand-daughter!
Fran Tunno
December 7, 2016 at 9:40 pmThanks Esther! I can’t wait to see you and discuss our lack of swimming practice. Thanks for reading! See you soon!
JoAnn Jones
December 2, 2016 at 7:59 amHi Frannie ! You have a darling granddaughter, it is wonderful to be with family just hanging out for sure. Congrats to Patty on the pumpkin pie , and she does look great 👍😊 Now onto Christmas 🎄!!! Have a wonderful day love reading your blogs. Love, JoAnn 😘
Fran Tunno
December 7, 2016 at 9:39 pmHi JoAnn! Thank you for always reading! I just got your Christmas card and it’s great to see all those little Joneses growing up so fast — and yet, you never seem to age! I’ll have whatever you’re drinking. I will send Patty your congrats! xo!