pecan

Mexican Chocolate Pecan Pie

November 12, 2012 | 27 Comments

I owe you an apology. And a slice of pie. OK, maybe a couple of slices.

Because although my little southwest kitchen has been bustling, I’ve been remiss in sharing all the juicy details with you over the past few weeks.

But I have an explanation! And it’s a good one! And it involves lots and lots and lots of technology fails, potty-mouthed tirades, and hatred of all things bandwith, byte, bitmap and Boolean. But I won’t bore you with the details.

Instead I’ll just tell you that the techno-troubles are resolved and now it’s time to churn out more goodness than you can shake a server at: there’s going to be cookies, there’s going to be gifties, there’s going to be laughter, and there’s most certainly going to be some good cheer.

But for now, there’s pie. The most delicious, candy bar-esque, toasted pecan-stuffed, Mexican-chocolate and graham-crusted pie that you can possibly imagine.

So dig in, strap up, and stay tuned. Because it’s about to get festive all up in here.

Mexican Chocolate-Crusted Pecan Pie

Chef’s Note: This recipe yields a thick, thick crust and quite a bit of filling – you’re going to want to be sure to use a 9″ deep-dish pie plate and, although I’ve never had any spillage while baking this pie, you may want to place the pie plate on a sheet tray before placing it in the oven, just to be safe.

For the crust:
1 package (9 whole) graham crackers
2 discs Mexican chocolate, melted (approximately 6.3 ounces)
5 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:
2 c. dark brown sugar, tightly packed
11 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 c. pecans, roughly chopped
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350°.

Spread the pecan pieces evenly over a sheet tray and toast for approximately 8 minutes or until deep brown and fragrant. Remove and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, to prepare the crust, place the graham crackers and melted chocolate into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth and blended. Process in the melted butter – the finished mixture should be the consistency of coarse, damp sand. Press the crust mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9″ deep-dish pie plate. Set aside.

To prepare the pie filling, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, vanilla, salt and then flour. Fold in the pecans. Carefully pour the filling over the crust and smooth across the top. Bake for 40-45 minutes. The finished pie will be crisp, puffed and golden on top. Remove and set aside to cool slightly before serving.

YIELD: approximately 10 servings

Filed Under: Crisps, Crumbles & Pies Tagged With: butter, dark brown sugar, eggs, flour, graham cracker, Mexican chocolate, pecan, recipe, sweet, vanilla

Dulce Skillet Sticky Bun Cake

September 12, 2012 | 15 Comments

You can consider this a sort of ‘Wordless Wednesday’ post…

I mean, what could we possibly have to converse about that would be better than this cake?

This one bowl, one fork, one skillet, sticky bun cake laced with dulce de leche?

Right. Nothing. Exactly. Duh.

There’s butter inside the cake, which is really just a series of biscuits that are going to bake together.

Oh! And then there’s a butter, brown sugar and pecan crust baked into the bottom of the cake, which you’ll invert to become the top of the cake. For easier access, natch.

Filed Under: Cakes & Cupcakes Tagged With: brown sugar, butter, buttermilk, cake, cast iron skillet, dulce de leche, pecan, recipe, sticky bun, sweet

Junk Drawer Ice Cream

July 23, 2012 | 26 Comments

I can never remember not having a junk drawer in my life – double negative aside, it’s true. We moved around a few times when I was young, but there was always a junk drawer on the premises. And now that I operate my own premises, I insist on curating my very own junk drawer.

The thing about junk drawers is that they are commonly known to contain, well, junk (duh). But I learned early on that they’re actually a veritable gold mine of available castoffs just waiting for one to claim as their own.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: cajeta, chocolate, egg yolks, heavy whipping cream, ice cream machine, peanut butter, pecan, recipe, salt, sugar, sweet, whole milk

Ranch Cake

May 23, 2012 | 25 Comments

Lately I’ve been feeling a little unsure… not like “What’s the meaning of all this?” unsure, like “Would you like fries with that?” unsure. I think I might be experiencing some sort of option allergy.

Normally I relish choices. Choices make me feel empowered. Choices make me feel special. Choices make me feel like someone cares enough to ask which way I’d like to go.

But we can all agree that it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, right? Right.

So I decided to conduct a little field test. Just a random sample experiment, supervised and conducted by this girl. I wanted to know if I was overreacting or if my choice fatigue was legit.

I picked the day. I went about my business. I recorded every question I received. And now, my friends, the results of one Super Scientific Study on Question Asking In These United States…

The morning started with a quick grocery run so, of course, I was confronted with the seminal question of a suburban existence:

QUESTION 1: Paper or plastic?

OK, fine. I saw this one coming and was prepared. But apparently markets have juiced up the choice machine, because I was then assaulted with:

QUESTION 2: Would you like carryout service? (I had purchased 1 item weighing approximately 6 ounces.)

QUESTION 3: Would you like game pieces for our ongoing Scrabble promotion that you have approximately 1 in 1,845,391,046,775,475,201 chances of winning?

QUESTION 4: How would you like your change? (I paid with a five dollar bill.)

Again, I can accept the aforementioned. Establishments are trying to step up their service game and I certainly can’t hate on them for that. So I quickly and quietly completed the inquisition, took my one item and change, and departed.

Back to the kitchen for some recipe testing and only a few questions here:

QUESTION 5: (From a telephone solicitor) Would you like to take a brief survey about your television viewing habits? It will only take about 4.8 hours of your time.

QUESTION 6: (From a certain little dog) Why can’t I have any more of those bacon treats that you gave me last week? (OK, we won’t count this one.)

And then it’s off to the local post office.

At the post it’s a questionpalooza of stamp choices, decorative mailer options, extra service selections and the now ubiquitous change format inquiry (again, I paid with a five dollar bill). I refuse to torment you, my friends, with the ugly details. Suffice it to say that the slots for QUESTION 7-13 have been filled.

I’ll admit that I was weakened by question fatigue at this point, but I opted to stay strong and push ahead. It must have been during this moment of weakness, though, that I made the fatal flaw of deciding that the next stop would be our local movie rental shop.

Filed Under: Cakes & Cupcakes Tagged With: baking soda, broiled topping, butter, coconut, flour, heavy cream, pecan, ranch cake, recipe, sweet

Mango Lassi Crunch Muffins

May 22, 2012 | 24 Comments

I wish I liked coffee. I really do.

I have this idea that if I liked coffee I’d be more sophisticated. Just a little more glamorous.

If I liked coffee I probably wouldn’t have such a potty mouth. I’d be fresh like driven snow!

If I liked coffee I probably wouldn’t be sitting here in yoga pants and an old Brew Thru tee shirt. I’d be wearing culottes and a jaunty scarf around my neck!

I just think that if I could get behind a morning cup of java, I’d be the best version of myself.

But, alas, I can’t stand the stuff. And I’ve tried!

Instead I prefer to attend business meeting with a 153 oz. fountain soda in hand. Arrive at family functions with a 2 liter tucked in my pocket. Wear my soda love on my sleeve.

What can I say?

Intellectually I know that it’s undignified to slurp out of a bottle or can in polite company, but soda has remained a hold-over comfort from my schooling days and I refuse to give it up.

And now my daily diet soda has taken the place of my childhood security blanket. I feel unprepared without it. Naked until it’s in hand. Mentally verklempt until I’ve started my journey to the bottom of the koozie-protected can (Yes, it’s a Brew Thru koozie and yes, I’m officially a hot mess.).

Filed Under: Quick Breads Tagged With: crunch, flour, fruit, mango lassi, Maria cookie, muffin, pecan, recipe, Rice Krispie, sugar, sweet, vanilla, white chocolate, yogurt

Texas Trash

April 12, 2012 | 26 Comments

I like old fashioned things. Do you like old fashioned things?

Antique tablecloths. Old school music. Leg warmers. Stuff like that.

Retro recipes are a particular favorite. So you best believe that when I stumbled across this gem at a local used book sale, I pounced.

It was published the year I was born!

And now, thanks to the lovely ladies of the Junior Service League of McAllen, Texas, I’m baking my way through some of the Lone Star State’s best.

Yee haw.

Filed Under: Snacks & Starters Tagged With: Captain Crunch, cereal, Cheerios, Fritos, liquid smoke, pecan, pretzels, recipe, Rice Chex, savory, snack mix, sweet, Tabasco, Texas Trash

Back To School Cinnamon Bread

September 6, 2011 | 51 Comments

Can you smell it? The fresh plastic scent of your brand new Trapper Keeper…

Can you feel it? The hot vinyl of the school bus seat sticking to the back of your thighs…

Can you hear it? The shrill shriek of the day’s first class bell…

That’s right, it’s time to go back to school. And to celebrate, this entire week on SB will be dedicated to just that – going back to school in delicious style.

Whoa. That’s me in the middle. Somewhere in Massachusetts sometime in the 1980s. Now might be a good time to review our First Day Checklist.

1. Get your hairs did. CHECK. My baby sister, B., is on the far left. B. enjoys eating Wheat Thins, running marathons, and, clearly, she too appreciates the value of utilitarian hairstyles. Points for practicality.

2. Proper equipment is vital. CHECK. That’s my Peanuts lunchbox, which preceded my ThunderCats lunchbox, which preceded my New Kids On The Block lunchbox. It seems that I was able to keep up with the trends far better than my friend there rocking the Members Only Jr. jacket and NASA lunchbox. Trend adherence is critical when it comes to proper equipment selection. Obvi.

3. Eat a good breakfast. CHECK. CHECK. Cinnamon Bread shows love. Cinnamon Bread gives comfort. Cinnamon Bread calms First Day jitters. It’s a natural. Let’s get it done.

I just love quick bread recipes like this: flavorful, simple and so incredibly satisfying.

Some people may be allergic to cinnamon, or maybe just not care for its heat. No biggie. This recipe is so versatile that you can swap the cinnamon out for the spice of your choice.

Maybe ginger? Maybe some cardamom? You’re the Spice Boss. Go for it.