Wandas World Famous Pecan Pie Food

DEAR ABBY'S FAMOUS PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, combine corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, salt and vanilla; mix well.
• Pour filling into unbaked pie crust.
• Sprinkle with pecan halves.
• Bake for 45- 50 minutes or until center is set.
• (Toothpick inserted in center will come out clean, when pie is done.).
• (If crust or pie appears to be getting too brown, cover with foil for the remaining baking time.).
• Cool.
• You can top it with a bit of whip cream if desired.

THE BEST PECAN PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Using your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter. (If the flour/butter mixture gets warm, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before proceeding.) Add the egg and stir the dough together with a fork or by hand in the bowl. If the dough is dry, sprinkle up to a tablespoon more of cold water over the mixture.
• Alternatively, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor fitted with the metal blade until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter, about 10 times. Add the egg and pulse 1 to 2 times; don't let the dough form into a ball in the machine. (If the dough is very dry add up to a tablespoon more of cold water.) Remove the bowl from the machine, remove the blade and bring the dough together by hand.
• Form the dough into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
• Roll the dough on a lightly-floured surface into a 12-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie pan and trim the edges, leaving about an extra inch hanging over the edge. Tuck the overhanging dough underneath itself to form a thick
• edge that is even with the rim. Flute the edge as desired. Freeze the pie shell for 30 minutes.
• Arrange the racks in the center and lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Put a piece of parchment paper or foil over the pie shell and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake on a baking sheet on the center rack until the dough is set, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and lift the sides of the parchment to remove the beans. Continue baking until the pie shell is lightly golden brown, about 10 more minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• While the crust is baking make the filling: Combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and, stirring constantly, continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts, bourbon and vanilla. Set it aside to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. (If the crust has cooled, return it to the oven for 5 minutes to warm through.) Whisk the beaten eggs into the filling until smooth. Put the pie shell on a baking sheet and pour the filling into the hot crust.
• Bake on the lower rack until the edges are set but the center is still slightly loose, 40 to 45 minutes. (If the edges get very dark, cover them with aluminum foil half way during baking.) Cool on a wire rack. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

THE BEST PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate while preparing filling., In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add pecans; cook, stirring constantly, until very fragrant and pecans start to brown, 4-5 minutes. Remove pecans with a slotted spoon, reserving butter in pan. Stir in brown sugar, maple syrup, and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. In a bowl, whisk a small amount of the hot mixture into eggs; return all to the pan, whisking constantly. Stir whiskey, optional, and vanilla into brown sugar mixture; stir in pecans. Pour into crust. , Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 55-60 minutes. Cover edges with foil during the last 30 minutes to prevent overbrowning if necessary. Cool on a wire rack. If desired, top with whipped cream and cinnamon. Refrigerate leftovers.

WANDA'S WORLD FAMOUS PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Beat eggs.
• Add sugar, corn syrup, butter & vanilla and beat on medium speed with mixer.
• Fold in pecans until all are coated with goo.
• Pour into pie shells.
• Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
• Wanda does not recommend deep dish pie shells for this recipe.

WANDA'S PUMPKIN PIE FROM CHATELAINE MAGAZINE

Steps:

• Position rack on bottom shelf in oven. Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Remove store-bought frozen pie shells from freezer and place on a baking sheet. Thaw at room temperature about 10 minutes. Or place homemade shells on a baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk eggs. Whisk in brown and granulated sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and salt. Whisk in pumpkin until blended, then whisk in milk and 1 cup (250 mL) whipping cream until thoroughly mixed. Pour into pie shells, then smooth tops. Bake on bottom rack of preheated 350F (180C) oven until filling is just set in centre when jiggled, 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven to a rack. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Delicious warm or at room temperature. If making ahead, leave on racks until cooled to room temperature, about 1 hour. Then loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Pies will keep well overnight.
• For topping, just before serving, pour 1/2 cup (125 mL) whipping cream into a medium-size bowl. Add 2 tbsp (30 mL) sugar and vanilla. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. Spoon dollops of cream over pie. Top with pieces of peanut brittle or crushed gingersnap cookies.