Family Favorite Pecan Pie Recipe

 

Pecan pie has been one of my families fall favorite desserts. This pie is made with pecans that are mixed into a rich caramel colored filling. This filling is made from eggs sugar, butter, molasses and corn syrup. The pecans and filling is poured into a pie crust.  Then baked to perfection.

 

I used to make pecan pie during the fall season.  Here in Missouri there was an abundant of you pick it pecan orchards and I grew up eating pecan pies during the fall season. So it was only natural that I made the pie when I was older for my family. But instead of using corn syrup I bake my pie with maple syrup. 

The traditional recipe calls for corn syrup. The corn syrup additive was a way to keep the pie from drying out, and it also holds the filling and prevents crystallization during the baking.  But I found that organic maple syrup does the same thing.  Plus, the maple syrup adds sweetness and the dark color to the pie. 

Know that pecan pie is a high calorie high fat dessert.  So if you are going to bake this pie then serve up the slices and plan to take a walk afterwards. A single slice of pecan pie contains 400 calories with 20 grams of fat.  I guess that is why they refer to pecan pie as comfort food. 

So if you are like me and prefer to not make a pecan pie with corn syrup then bake the pie with maple syrup instead.  You will find that it tastes delicious.  I promise you will not miss that corn syrup.  

I found the recipe online here > Bake by Nature  No Corn Syrup pecan pie recipe

 

Mom's Homemade Chocolate Walnut Brownies

Mom's homemade chocolate walnut brownies are for anyone who loves rich chocolaty brownies with a hint of walnuts.  These brownies are sensational and will satisfy your cravings.  Whenever I feel a craving coming on for these rich and chewy dark chocolate brownies, I need to stop what I am doing and make a batch.  

 As far back as I can remember my mom would make these brownies for us for dessert on Sunday.  She would serve them warm from the oven with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.  I remember I would close my eyes whenever I took the fist bite, and as the chocolate and the ice cream melted in my mouth I always thought that I must be in heaven.  Mom's chocolate  walnut brownies are a timeless pleasure for the chocolate lover.

 If you are craving chocolate then follow these tips and make this recipe for homemade chocolate walnut brownies. One bite and you will know that they are worth the effort.

Gather products and ingredients for chocolate walnut brownies.  Set everything on the kitchen counter. 

Note I modernized this recipe; Mom melted the butter and chocolate on the stove and I use the microwave.

 4 squares of unsweetened, all natural chocolate 

¾ cup of no salt butter 

 ½ tablespoon of no salt butter 

3 eggs (or egg beaters)

2 cups of sugar 

1 teaspoon vanilla (all natural)

1 cup flour 

1 cup chopped walnuts

½ tablespoon of no salt butter

13x9x2 Glass baking dish 
Medium size microwavable bowl  
Apron  
Wire whisk 
Mixing spoon  
Measuring cup  
Teaspoon  

Brownie Diet by Sandyspider

The first step in making  chocolate walnut brownies is to adjust the oven rack to the center. Then turn on the oven heat to 325 F for glass baking dish.  Let the oven preheat while you prepare the brownies. 

Chop the chocolate with a knife.  Add the chocolate and butter into a microwavable bowl. Set the heat on high and heat for two minutes or until both butter and chocolate are melted. 

Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the chocolate with your wire whisk. Make sure the chocolate is completely melted if not put back in the microwave. 

When the chocolate is melted add the sugar to the chocolate and stir. 

Next, add the eggs and the vanilla. Mix these ingredients with your wire whisk.  When the sugar, chocolate, eggs, and vanilla are blended, you would then add the flour and the nuts. 

Use a large mixing spoon to mix all of your ingredients until blended.

Grease your baking dish with no salt butter. Spread your brownie mixture into the baking dish. Bake the brownies for 30 to 35 minutes. Check to see if the brownies are done by Inserting toothpick into the center of the brownies. If the toothpick is clean when you remove it from the brownies are ready to come out of the oven.

Tips: 
Chocolate is rich in antioxidants and thus makes the brownie a healthy snack or dessert for your family and friends.  

For a healthier brownie substitute white all purpose flour with whole wheat flour. 

Here is a food network video showing you the BEST brownies:  enjoy....

Brownie image credit: jeffreyw, Wikipedia creative commons attribution 2.0