HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR HELOISE: I have enjoyed your recipes for years. Do you have the one for mock pecan pie?
— Deloris E., Missouri DEAR READER: As a matter of fact, I have a wonderful recipe for Mock Pecan Pie that you can find in my book In the Kitchen With Heloise. It’s easy to make, and here it is:
Mock Pecan Pie
1 cup cooked unseasoned pinto
beans
1½ to 2 cups sugar
4 ounces butter or margarine 4 eggs, well beaten 2 tablespoons molasses or dark
corn syrup
3 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon salt
1 (9-inch) pie shell, unbaked ½ cup chopped pecans Whipped cream or nondairy whipped topping (for serving) Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Drain and mash the beans.
In a medium bowl, cream the sugar and butter. Add the eggs, molasses, vanilla and salt. Mix in the beans. Pour into the pie shell and sprinkle the chopped pecans on top. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve with the whipped cream.
Note: Use canned or start from dried beans.
DEAR HELOISE: My meringue is a mess! I did something wrong, but I don’t know what. It was runny. Help.
— Jane R., Florida DEAR READER: Here are a few suggestions:
Egg whites need to be at room temperature, and you’ll need at least three per pie.
After the egg whites are beaten stiff (but not dry), sprinkle ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar and just a dash of salt on top and beat again very slightly. Slowly add 3 tablespoons of sugar per egg white in the bowl while beating the egg whites continuously.
Have the meringue touching the edges of the crust.
Put the pie in the middle of the oven rack to brown, and when the meringue is almost as brown as you want it, turn off the oven and crack open the door a little so the pie can cool down gradually.
DEAR HELOISE: I make a fruit salad that all my friends seem to love. I cut up oranges, strawberries, apples, bananas, celery, walnuts, raisins and pineapple, and use plain yogurt with 3 tablespoons of sour cream as a dressing. This is one of those easy salads that requires no measuring. You just make as much or as little as you want.
— Lorna W., Hawaii