Tasty Tuesdays - Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

I think that if you are born below the Mason Dixon Line you are required to enjoy pecan pie. I will admit that I am very particular when it comes to this sweet treat. I do not care for a pecan pie that has a thick layer of sticky filling that tastes like pure syrup. I also do not care for mine warm with ice cream on top - it's too melty and the pie crust gets smooshy. I like mine with a crispy flaky shell, a filling overloaded with pecans, and the temperature that's not too cold and not too hot. The only exception to these rules is a slice of chocolate chip pecan pie right off the grill at Camelia Grill. Now that is a taste of heaven.

I set out Saturday to make two desserts for our Pre-Thanksgiving feast. One was the Pumpkin Pie Spectacular out of this month's Southern Living and the other was Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites from last year's November issue of Southern Living. The pumpkin pie fell short of "Spectacular" in my opinion. I think I baked it too long and the pumpkin filling overcooked, but it said it needed to cook forever! Really it was about an hour and fifteen minutes, but still that is a serious oven commitment when you have a turkey and sides to bake. On the other hand the Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites were delish and sooooooo easy to do. I highly recommend them as gifts or as the perfect treat to take with you to your next holiday party. I cannot emphasize how incredibly easy there were to make. I was only supposed to veer off my personal trainer imposed diet for Saturday evening, but just between you and me, I ate one Sunday morning - they were even better the next day!

Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites
Yield: Makes about 6 dozen
Ingredients
3 cups chopped pecans
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 (2.1-oz.) packages frozen mini-phyllo pastry shells
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant.
2. Stir together sugar and corn syrup in a medium bowl. Stir in pecans, eggs, and next 3 ingredients.
3. Spoon about 1 heaping teaspoonful pecan mixture into each pastry shell, and place on 2 large baking sheets.
4. Bake at 350º for 20 to 22 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks, and let cool completely (about 30 minutes). Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Mini Pecan Pies: Substitute 1 1/2 (8-oz.) packages frozen tart shells for frozen mini-phyllo pastry shells. Prepare recipe as directed through Step 2. Spoon about 1/4 cup pecan mixture into each tart shell. Place tart shells on a large baking sheet. Proceed with recipe as directed in Step 4, increasing bake time to 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Garnish with currants, if desired. Makes 1 dozen. Prep: 15 min., Bake: 30 min.

I made these according to the "mini pecan pie" directions because we didn't need 6 dozen and those little tart shells get expensive. I found the exact mini pie shells the recipe references in the freezer section at the Bi-Lo. They were VIP brand mini pie shells. I don't recall the brand they carried that had the mini-phyllo shells, but they had those as well. Sometimes it can be difficulty to find these products, so shop in advance just in case. And DON'T use the Pepperidge Farm puff pastry shells. I made that mistake last year!!!

And just in case you're ever in New Orleans and ordering a slice, you would ask for "pecawn pie." We don't say it like Paula Dean does!!!

Take Me Back to Manhattan

In just eight days, we will be boarding our direct flight to NYC!!!!! I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am for this trip. The only thing I love more than New York is New York all dressed up for the holidays. We have had all of our dinner reservations booked for weeks now, we have our tickets to see a show, and we have all of the details settled for the Allen family food tour of SOHO. Now I have to resist the urge to plan every minute of what's left of our trip. If it was up to me, I would schedule everything from naps to walking times in Central Park. I have a hard time leaving anything to spontaneity. As a result, I have been trying to find the perfect place for us to have lunch on Wednesday, our free day. I think I have the solution - Mariebelle. I love the lunch menu and they also have a hot cholocate menu. Enough said, right!!! I think it sounds perfect for a clear but chilly day. Yes, I have also been following the weather on accuweather's 15 day forecast for about a month now. Fingers crossed for mild temps and no rain. This girl's ready for a parade!

A New Addition

Late last week, our office manager sent out an email with the subject "This Doggie Needs a Home." Never in my whole life have I been tempted to open an email like that and decide that we would make the perfect parents for another dog. But, I opened the email and saw the sweetest little face I'd ever seen. "Puppy" had appeared on the steps of a little shop in our town and after a great effort to find her parents, the shopkeeper concluded that "Puppy" had been abandoned. The shopkeeper loved "Puppy" but was not sure they wanted to keep her. I sent the email to Mark, and at first he thought I was crazy. The more and more we talked about it, the more we started thinking that maybe we should just take the plunge. I woke up Friday and told Mark I wanted to adopt the puppy and name her Beignet. So Saturday she came over to meet the current master of our house, our almost 16 year old Jack Russell, Annie. They seemed to get along well, and Beignet was just too cute not to fall in love with. She really is just the sweetest little thing who loves to play and cuddle and jump. We aren't sure exactly what we're getting into, but we've decided we're up to the challenge of crate training and managing separation anxiety. If you could see her face you would just melt!

Fridays Five Favorite Things - Musicals

I realized just now that in exactly two weeks I will be sitting in Orchestra seats at Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have always loved old movies, but most especially musicals. There are several that I could probably recite word for word if I tried. I have been singing songs from Birdie in the shower, in the kitchen, in the car... so I thought I'd fill you in on a few of my favorites musicals!!

1. Rent - My FAVORITE musical of all time. Not traditional in any sense of the word, but it is brilliant, poignant, irreverant, and intellectual. The music is amazing and the message brings a tear to my little bleeding heart.


2. Jesus Christ Superstar - What a beautiful show. It takes an incredibly talented performer to be able to hit some of the high notes that actor who plays Jesus must hit. But when it's done right, you will get chills. I happened to perform in just such a rendition at St. Luke's in NOLA and I can tell you there was not one dry eye in the house when the show ended.


3. Anything Goes - This is such a fun musical with absolutely fantastic chorus sequences and great comedic dialogue. The major musical numbers are showstoppers and will bring down the house when done well!


4. Chicago - I first saw this show at Jesuit High School when I was a freshman at MCA. I was hooked. I love the costuming, the music, the choreography, and the fact that there are so many great roles for female performers. I'd give anything to play Big Momma Morton just once!!


5. Bye Bye Birdie - This musical has such a special place in my heart. My mom and I used to stay up late watching old movies on AMC. One night we watched Ann Margaret star in one of the best movies I had ever seen - Bye Bye Birdie. I wanted to be Kim McAfee more than anything else in the world. I could recite every line and sing every one of her songs. And it came in handy because the summer after my senior year in high school, a friend of mine was casting for the musical and asked me to play Kim! I had been in many a musical but had never had a part as significant as Kim's. Not to mention that I had imagined playing this role since I was about ten! It was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and to this day, I can recite all of her dialogue. I cannot wait to get to NYC and sit in a beautiful theatre and watch some amazing performers bring, Kim, Albert, Hugo Peabody, Rosie, and of course Conrad Birdie to life. Poor Mark, I have a feeling he will be hearing my rendition of "How Lovely to be a Woman" quite often over the next few weeks!!!

Fun on Friday

Diana from Divine Home is having a fantastic giveaway!!! Simply visit her blog and post a quick comment and you are registered to win a treat from the Savannah Bee Company! You'll get a delish jar of Tupelo honey and a sweet little decorative honey jar too! How much fun!!!

A Thought for Thursday - Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar

This weekend a few of my friends were telling stories about instances where their lunch or one of their co-workers lunches were swiped from the office refrigerator. This has to be one of my biggest workplace pet peeves!! Unless you brought what you are about to eat, slowly put the turkey sandwich down and walk away from the fridge!

When I was working at a big firm, we had a lady selling those tubs of cookie dough for her kid. Because you can never really say no to those kinds of things, everybody bought one. About six weeks later when she made the big delivery, our office fridge was stuffed to the brim with cookie dough of all kinds. That night one person forgot their tub of dough and some sneaky auditors who had been working late ate almost the whole carton of cookie dough. Well, the next day when the person discovered this, all hell broke loose in our office. HR was summoned, there were meetings and apologies. It was CRAZY!

I bought this jar of Klaussen pickles two weeks ago and put it in our fridge. I have eaten one of them so far. The other day I was looking for a quick and low-cal snack so I went to grab a pickle. What did I find - there's only one left!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have not said anything as my office is so small and I'd rather not make it that big of a deal. But I'm wondering, have you ever had your lunch snagged? Did you say anything? Thoughts??

Trendy Wednesday - Sequins and Sparkles

With the 2009 holiday season upon us, it is time to start thinking about your holiday party wardrobe! And what goes better with the holidays than clothes and accessories that sparkle and shine. Is there ever a better occasion to pair a simple and tasteful black sheath paired with the perfect sparkly broach than to your office Christmas party? And isn't a great little sequin handbag just so festive ad fun!! From a simple sparkly top to the all-over sequined dress, you can decide just how bedazzled you want to be this holiday season. There are some absolutely beautiful pieces available this year, but here are a few I have my eyes on...

I love this Banana Republic Art Deco Brooch. I think you could add a touch of the holidays to any outfit with this broach. Check your closet for dresses or sweaters from previous season and add this piece. I bet it feels like a whole new look!

This BCBG Two-Tone Sequin Clutch is adorable!! If you rub all of the sequins one way it is a silver bag, and if you rub them the other way it is a gold bag - GENIUS!!

This Topshop Sequin Blouse is just so sweet and pretty. Pair it with dark jeans, neutral patent leather pumps, and a black velvet blazer or a cream satin scarf and grab dinner with your friends.

I happen to think Reversible Sequin Mini Dress would make the perfect NYE dress. I love the color combination and the fact that you can wear it as a v-neck dress or turn it around and wear it as a scoop neck dress. Add some black tights and some black leather booties - Perfection!