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A ROUNDUP OF THANKSGIVING PIES | 1, 2, 3

HONEY-PECAN PUMPKIN PIE

California is among the four leading honey producers in the country. And Texas produces some of the finest pecans. This pie has a touch of honey in the filling, in the topping and in the crunchy coating for the pecan garnish. An extra batch of the honeyed pecans is a great snack or holiday hostess gift.

8 servings.

PECANS
6 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Pinch of salt
1 cup pecan halves (about 4 ounces)

PIE
1 Easy Pastry Dough disk

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1 15-ounce can solid pack pumpkin
1/3 cup honey
1 cup whipping cream
4 large eggs

TOPPING
1 cup chilled whipping cream
2 tablespoons honey

FOR PECANS: Place large piece of foil on work surface. Stir sugar, honey, butter and salt in heavy medium skillet over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves, butter melts and syrup comes to simmer. Add pecans. Cook until syrup turns deep caramel color and bubbles thickly, stirring nuts occasionally to coat, about 9 minutes. Scrape onto foil. Working quickly, separate nuts with spoon. Cool completely. Place in airtight container. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Store at room temperature.)

FOR PIE: Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Roll out dough disk on floured surface to 12- to 13-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold overhang under; crimp edge, forming high-standing rim.

Stir sugar and next 5 ingredients in large bowl. Whisk in pumpkin and honey, then cream and 3 eggs. Beat 1 egg in small bowl to blend. Brush inside of crust with some of beaten egg. Pour filling into crust.

Bake pie until filling is slightly puffed and begins to crack at edges, covering crust with foil if browning too quickly, about 1 hour. Cool on rack. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Store at room temperature.)

FOR TOPPING: Using electric mixer, beat cream and honey in medium bowl until stiff peaks form. Spoon into pastry bag fitted with star tip. Pipe rosettes of cream atop pie. Garnish with candied nuts. Serve, passing extra nuts separately.


 
PINEAPPLE, APRICOT AND CRANBERRY LATTICE-CRUST PIE

Here's a colorful and creative pie: Apricots, which flourish in California, Hawaiian pineapple and Oregon cranberries come together in a filling that offers a terrific balance of the exotic and the traditional. It's good with vanilla ice cream.

8 servings.

FILLING
1 16-ounce can unpeeled apricot halves in heavy syrup, well drained, syrup reserved
1 cup diced dried apricots (about 5 ounces)

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons frozen pineapple juice concentrate, thawed
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 cups 1/2-inch pieces fresh peeled cored pineapple
1/2 cup cranberries
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter

CRUST
2 Easy Pastry Dough disks

1 egg, beaten to blend (for glaze)

 

FOR FILLING: Bring reserved apricot syrup and dried apricots to boil in heavy small saucepan. Remove from heat. Let stand until apricots soften, about 10 minutes. Drain apricots; discard syrup.

Stir sugar, cornstarch, pineapple juice and lemon juice in heavy medium saucepan until blended and smooth. Mix in pineapple. Let stand until juices form, about 15 minutes. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils and is very thick, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in cranberries, butter and dried apricots. Cool completely. (Can be made 8 hours ahead; let stand at room temperature.) Gently mix in canned apricots.

FOR CRUST: Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Roll out 1 dough disk on floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold overhang under.

Roll out second dough disk on floured surface to 13-inch round. Cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Brush inside and top edge of crust with glaze. Spoon filling into crust. Arrange 7 pastry strips across top of pie, spacing 1/2 inch apart; brush with glaze. Arrange 7 more strips atop pie in opposite direction. Tuck ends of pastry strips under crust at edge; press to seal. Crimp edge. Brush lattice and edge with glaze.

Bake until lattice is golden and filling starts to bubble, about 45 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)


Next: Spiced Pear and Raisin Pie and more! >>
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