Rosewood Manor
Although this is a more recent event, it will be treasured in our Christmas memories. This past year my husband and I traveled from our home in sunny, warm Florida to our second home in cold, snowy Michigan for Christmas. Don’t get me wrong—both are amazing, and we are blessed to be able to enjoy both areas. This past year has been milder than normal for both, so we took advantage of the weather for the drive.
Our youngest daughter, Corri, her husband, Chris, and their two children, Henry and Hazel, who live in Michigan, spent several days with us. It was a real treat for us! On Christmas Day, the lake we live on in Michigan was frozen solid and there were people ice-fishing. After opening all the gifts that Santa had brought — with squeals of excitement never to be matched again by 4-year-old Hazel—I spent the afternoon preparing a lovely Christmas dinner. While that was happening, Chris went down near the lake to make a fire in our fire pit. OK, I thought he was crazy, but we had an amazing time roasting marshmallows, just one of Henry’s favorite things to do at our place, and having a few adult beverages by the fire. It was a lovely day that we will never forget.
Wishing you and yours a very blessed Christmas and happiness in the coming new year!
Kentucky Derby Pecan Pie
11/2 cups chopped or whole
pecans, roasted 1/2 package premade refrigerated piecrust at room temperature (1 piecrust) 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet
chocolate chips 1 cup dark corn syrup (light corn syrup
will work also) 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup bourbon ( You can use water; however, the alcohol burns off and the flavor stays.) 4 large eggs, room temperature 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 teaspoons plain white cornmeal
(yellow will work just fine) 2 teaspoons vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt
To roast pecans, lightly spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Sprinkle pecans on baking sheet (I add just a bit of salt over the pecans). Bake at 350 degrees just until the pecans become aromatic, about 5 minutes. Watch carefully, as they can scorch easily. Set aside. Turn down oven to 325 degrees for pie. Lay piecrust into 9" glass pie dish. Fold under edges and crimp.
Sprinkle pecans and then chocolate chips evenly over bottom of piecrust. Set aside.
In large saucepan, stir together corn syrup, sugar and brown sugar. Bring to boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Whisk together bourbon, eggs, butter, cornmeal, vanilla and salt. Gradually add small amounts of egg mixture into hot syrup mixture, whisking constantly. Pour filling into prepared piecrust.
Bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes or until set. Cool completely on wire rack, about 1 hour.
This is a very rich pie, so I serve small slices topped with a bit of whipped cream. We have it twice a year: at Kentucky Derby time in May and at Christmas.