Pecan Pie - and Don't Forget the Giveaway!

First things first - I personally believe that this pie is all about the crust. If the crust isn't great, the pecan pie won't be - and that would be tragic. 

I use the basic pie pastry recipe that came with my Cuisinart. It never fails and it is flaky and buttery and absolutely wonderful.

Basic Pie Pastry (in a Cuisinart)

Makes 3 9-inch pie shells (or 2 pie shells and some pie crust cookies)

2 ⅔ cups flour

2 sticks very cold unsalted butter cut into 1 inch pieces

1 tsp. salt

½ cup ice water

Use metal blade to process flour, butter and salt until mixture is like coarse meal, about 8 seconds. Add ice water and pulse until dough begins to clump together. Do not let it form a ball. Divide dough into 3 equal parts and put each in a plastic food storage bag. Work through each bag to press dough together into a ball, then flatten into a disc. Refrigerate dough at least 1 hour.

Roll each disc of dough on a lightly floured surface into a circle about ⅛ inch thick. Press into place in pie pan. Trim dough, leaving 1 inch overlap beyond edge of pan. Fill pie crust and continue as instructed for recipe.

For a pre-baked crust, bake 12 minutes at 400°.

Our favorite pecan pie is one made with no corn syrup. I love the crunch on the surface of the pie from the real sugar.

This is the pie right out of the oven. As it cools, it settles a bit and you can see the pecans.

Pecan Pie

 

1 cup light brown sugar

¼ cup white sugar

½ cup butter

2 eggs

1 T flour

1 T milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400°.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy and stir in melted butter. Stir in brown sugar, white sugar and flour; mix well. Last, add the milk, vanilla and nuts.

Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400°, then reduce temperature to 350° and bake for 30-40 minutes or until done.

**Don't forget! I am giving away one of my nightgowns. To enter, see this post, and click here to look at my shop!** Giveaway closes at midnight on Thanksgiving Day.