I recently bought a bag of nuts for the Holidays.  Actually, I bought them to use for decoration more than to eat, but I did go ahead and get a nutcracker in case my kids wanted to shell a few pecans.  Imagine my surprise when I realized that neither one of my children could recognize a pecan in the shell.  Or a walnut, or Brazil nut, or even an almond for that matter.  They did recognize a chestnut, but only because we’d seen a show on the Food Network about them.

Is this normal?  Have I fallen down on the job here?  Do your kids/siblings/etc…know their nuts? 

These are things I need to know.

Well, maybe not.  But you will certainly make the people you share this fabulous Pecan Pie recipe with very happy.  They will drool.  They will rhapsodize your culinary abilities.  They will beg you for the recipe and offer to clean your house.  (Probably not, but it sounded good, didn’t it?)

Ahem.

Anyway…  This is my favorite Pecan Pie recipe and because it’s the end of the week and my brain is basically all but shutting down, I thought I would do something simple and helpful to make both of our lives easier. 

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup dark corn syrup

1/2 cup white corn syrup

1 cup light brown sugar

1/3 tsp of salt

1/3 cup of melted butter

3 eggs

1 cup pecans

1 9 inch pie shell

To Prepare:

Combine syrup, sugar, salt and butter.  Slightly beat the eggs, then add to the mixture. Beat well, then pour into pie shell.  Sprinkle pecans on top of pie.  Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.  Enjoy!

Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!  (And make this pie!)

Ya’ll, I’m so proud of my children.  They’re artisitc sides are really coming through this holiday season.  For instance, this afternoon, my dearies came to me and asked if they could use the gingerbread cookie mix I’d bought to make cookies.  I said yes, envisioning carefully decorated gingerbread men, Christmas trees, stars and what have you.  Instead, THIS is what they made…

I promise, they’re edible.  And, revolting shape aside, quite tasty.

I’m done.

Oh, sweet mercy.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I ate WAY too much. 

Turkey?  Check.

Dressing?  Check.

Casseroles?  Check.

Bread?  Check.

Dessert?  Check.  Check.  Check.

It’s a good thing I’m going to work some of this off today by putting up my Christmas tree.    (Picture to come later!)

Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!

Hope everyone has a fantastic day.  Also, if you’ve got a cool Labor Day favorite recipe, please post it in the comments.  Here’s mine.  Very simple, but very good.

Corn Salad

1 can shoepeg corn

1 can niblets

1/2 red onion, chopped fine

2 tablespoons of Miracle Whip

Drain water off corn, combine all ingredients, salt and pepper to taste and let refrigerate at least an hour before serving.  Very simple, but very good.  (My daughter absolutely loves this.)