Sunday, June 13, 2010

What's Cookin' at the Johnson's :Chocolate Pecan Pie

Yes,yes, I know many of us are watching are calories(go right to our hips)
However there should be at least a little bit of time to indulge. This pie is so so rich and so very good. Maybe it is the Southern in me but this has to be my favorite pie recipe. The calories are huge and so is the fat but, hey, everything in moderation even :::

chocolate pecan pie

Crust:
1 1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
2 tablespoon(s) shortening
4 tablespoon(s) (1 stick) margarine or butter



Filling
4 tablespoon(s) (1 stick) margarine or butter
2 ounce(s) unsweetened chocolate, (1 square = 1 ounce)
1 3/4 cup(s) pecan halves
3/4 cup(s) dark brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup(s) dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
3 large eggs

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Directions

1.In medium bowl, mix flour and salt. With two knives used scissor-fashion, cut in shortening and 4 tablespoons margarine or butter (1/2 stick) until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 3 to 4 tablespoons cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, into flour mixture, mixing lightly with fork after each addition until dough is just moist enough to hold together. Shape dough into a disk.
2.On lightly floured surface, with floured rolling pin, roll dough into a round 1 1/2 inches larger all around than inverted 9-inch pie plate.
Gently ease dough into pie plate; trim edge, leaving 1-inch overhang. Fold overhang under; pinch to form decorative edge. With fork, prick bottom and side of piecrust in many places to prevent puffing during baking. Cover and refrigerate pie crust at least 30 minutes.
3.Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In Microwave save bowl combined unsweetened chocolate with 4 tablespoons margarine or butter melt in microwave on low for 20 sec, stir and repeat untill smooth(be careful! burnt chocolate, not so good) set aside to cool.
4.Line pie shell with foil and fill with pie weights, dry beans, or uncooked rice. Bake piecrust 10 minutes; remove foil with weights and bake 10 minutes longer or until lightly browned. If pastry puffs up during baking, gently press it to pie plate with back of spoon. Cool piecrust on wire rack at least 10 minutes. Turn oven control to 350 degrees F.
5.In large bowl, with wire whisk, mix cooled chocolate mixture, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, and eggs until blended. Stir in chopped pecans and pecan halves.
6.Pour pecan mixture into cooled crust. Bake pie 45 to 50 minutes until edges of filling are set (center will jiggle slightly). Cool pie on wire


If you want to cheat a little Pillsbury Pie crust is very good-- just skip the italics